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Christmas Tree Owners Warned Of Small Brown Clumps That Need Removing

Christmas Tree Owners Warned Of Small Brown Clumps That Need Removing

They look a bit like small pine cones, but the walnut-shaped growths may actually be a praying mantis egg sac

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Many people are now putting their Christmas trees up to inject a little festive cheer into their lives, which seems like a good idea, given the year we've all had.

But before you start throwing tinsel and baubles at yours, people are being warned about the insects that real trees can bring into the home.

A Facebook post that previously went viral has resurfaced, being shared across the internet once again to alert others about walnut-sized lumps on Christmas trees, which may actually be sacs containing praying mantis eggs - potentially hundreds of 'em.

The Rainforest Alliance says praying mantids tend to be found in warmer, tropical areas, such as southern Europe and North America.

PA

Its website explains: "Praying mantids can be found throughout the world in tropical areas and sunnier areas in temperate zones, including North America and southern Europe.

"There are many species of mantids, but most are tropical, belonging to the Mantidae family."

The Manchester Evening News reports it is much rarer to find one of the lumps if you live in the UK, but a Norway Spruce, Scots Pine or Fraser Fir may have once been home to one of the bugs.

The Mirror also reports that experts say temperatures inside homes could speed up the time it takes for the eggs to hatch, meaning if you don't get rid of a sac sharpish, you could be sharing your Christmas dinner with a few unwelcome guests.

Facebook/Daniel Reed

Facebooker Daniel Reed shared a warning about the brown lumps a few years ago, writing: "If you happen to see a walnut sized/shaped egg mass on your Christmas tree, don't fret, clip the branch and put it in your garden. These are 100-200 praying mantis eggs!

"We had two egg masses on our tree this year. Don't bring them inside they will hatch and starve!"

The post has now been shared more than 180,000 times, and has 16,000 reactions and 8,000 comments.

One grateful social media user wrote: "I probably would have thought it was a deformed pine cone. Thanks for the info."

A second said: "Good to know. Now I will be on the look out."

Someone else commented: "I've seen those before didn't know that's what they were."

Another joked: "Haha that's me never getting a real tree."

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Daniel Reed

Topics: Christmas Tree, Christmas, World News, News, Animals