New York: Please Don’t Destroy These Egg Sacs

With so many invasive species making their homes in local backyards, it's easy to have an itchy trigger finger when coming across egg sacs in New York. There's at least one, however, that needs all the protection it can get.

This year was especially challenging for New Yorkers and their battle against invasive pests. While the spotted lanternfly has long been a headache in the northeast, this spring also saw a boom in spongy moth caterpillars, the insect that not only causes severe damage to local trees, but makes it rain poop from the sky. Luckily, there's another animal that can come to the rescue.

Finding Egg Sacs in New York State

There's no denying that there's something inherently odd (or even alien)  about finding an egg sac in your local garden, especially when it's hard to know what insect is getting ready to hatch. While egg sacs of the spotted lanternfly (above) should be destroyed on sight, a different egg sac should be left alone.

Praying Mantises in New York State

While the praying mantis is not native to the United States (they were introduced in the 1800s), the insect has proven to be helpful instead of harmful, and can assist gardeners with eating bothersome pests. They even have been photographed eating the dreaded spotted lanternfly... and their egg sacs look much different as well.

Identifying Praying Mantis Egg Sacs in New York

Praying mantis egg sacs are described as "straw-colored" that "look like a piece of shredded wheat breakfast cereal about the size of a child's thumb" (above), according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). The eggs are laid before winter, and are hatching right about... now (below).

Praying Mantis Nymphs in New York

These nymph praying mantises will undergo several major changes before adulthood, including a color change and wing growth. It wouldn't be possible to have these garden friends, however, if their egg sacs are destroyed. Next spring it can be helpful to remember: any "shredded wheat cereal" found on plants or tree branches should be protected to ensure the next generation of this fascinating creature.