Hatching Praying Mantises

A few years ago I ordered a praying mantis egg sac, for my children, as a part of our life cycles science studies. We kept the egg sac in a netted butterfly habitat upon our kitchen counter.

While doing their daily chore of putting away dishes, my children happened to catch the egg sac just as it was hatching! It was so exciting watching one to two hundred babies (nymphs) climb out of the sac. There were so many quickly emerging. It was like watching a pot boiling over.

We released all but four of them in our backyard. The other four praying mantises, were kept in separate enclosures, where we fed them fruit flies from the pet store. It was so neat to watch the nymphs stalk and hunt the fruit flies. Plus we were able to see them grow a little and darken in color. After one week, we released these praying mantises as well. Every year we see at least one praying mantis in our yard. We often ponder could it be a relative of our hatchlings.

If you haven’t done this activity with your children, I highly recommend it. But only if praying mantises naturally live in your area. It is a memorable learning experience that helps create a love and wonder for nature. Furthermore, the praying mantis will do wonders for your garden by eating moths, mosquitos, roaches, flies and aphids.

Here are a few praying mantis activities for Pre-K through early elementary age:

Life Cycle Coloring Sheet

Praying Mantis Diagram

Printable Book: Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis Printable Pack

I am sharing this post with CFFC: Size Comparison Of Objects

It is so special to experience the wonders of nature through your child’s eyes. Go out and explore together and have a magical day.
With a grateful heart,
Heather