That pinecone on your tree may look whimsical and Christmasy, but take a closer look, and you may realize it’s not a pinecone at all. Some are praying mantis eggs that need to be snipped right away. Read this article to know the difference and keep your home pest-free.

Whether or not you have already picked up your family Christmas tree for this year, there is still plenty of time to decorate this must-have centerpiece of the holiday season. While many go for the reusable ones, there are still many that prefer the look, feel, and smell of true spruce.
Pexels/NastyaSensei
While you're trimming the tree this season, be sure to watch out for pinecone-shaped masses that may seem like something charming to leave attached. These objects aren't pinecones at all.
Flickr/Kristine Paulus
This acorn-like mass is actually a sack of praying mantis eggs that are waiting to hatch. There could be hundreds inside.
Flickr/Joshua Ganderson

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In the fall, momma praying mantises lay their eggs on trees and branches where they are supposed to be safely kept until spring, if kept in the right conditions (i.e. outside).
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Praying mantises can lay up to 400 eggs at a time, and when brought inside, the eggs warm up and may think it is spring. If they hatch in your house, the babies could starve and die, and that's not a very merry Christmas for anyone.
Wikimedia Commons/Ajit Pendse
You can be proactive by examining your tree for these egg sacks, trimming any branches that contain them, and taking them outside.
Flickr/Melissa
While natural pinecones on Christmas trees are charming and whimsical, these ones are not. Make sure your tree is free of praying mantises for the holidays.
Flickr/Artur Staszewski

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