We love seeing natural trees in Kansas from local farms in Sunflower State homes – but praying mantises in Kansas are a real problem. Do you inspect your Christmas trees in Kansas thoroughly before putting them up and decorating them in your home? Are you sure you went over every limb this year? If not, you might be in for a crawly surprise from praying mantises in Christmas trees.

Imagine this: you are sitting in your living area, basking in the warmth and smell of your natural Christmas tree, enjoying a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. Suddenly, something happens.
Kristine Paulus/Flickr
Teeny tiny praying mantes flow from your tree like water. They're hatching from something you may have overlooked when buying that natural Christmas tree and the warmth of your home has woken them up as if it was springtime.
Mike Lewinski/Flickr
It's true that this could happen to you, and most anyone in warmer climates who takes home a natural tree in the winter. Many overlook the walnut-shaped ootheca (mantis egg sack) on their tree and are often surprised with the results crawling all over their tree and surrounding area.
Paul Eisenberg/Flickr

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Keeping this from happening is as easy as checking over your tree for any walnut-looking lumps. If you find one, there are two ways you should handle this.
Joshua Ganderson/Flickr
One thing you can do is to put it in a jar with sticks and twigs and tiny holes or mesh in the lid, perfect for hatching these miniature praying mantis babies and feeding them until you release them in the late spring or early summer. It's a fun project for families with kids!
Lisa Brown/Flickr
Your second option is as easy as snipping off the branch with the ootheca and setting it outside in a tree, bush, garden area, or neighbor's garden even. Praying mantes eat many bugs that most people don't appreciate in their spring gardens, so they're a welcome presence.
Dhrm77/Wikimedia Commons
Whether you choose to raise them or set them safely outside, make sure to check your natural Christmas trees this year to keep yourself from a surprise! Chasing these around with a jar or vacuum cleaner isn't how we want you to spend the holidays.
Lisa Brown/Flickr

For those of you still looking for natural trees in Kansas before the holidays (or if you want to pick out where you’re getting one from next year), you might check out this tree farm with a sleigh ride, or this country Christmas tree farm. If you have any stories about praying mantises in Christmas trees, please share them in the comments!

Praying mantises don’t make the best Christmas ornaments – but now that you know what to look for, you won’t have that problem this year! Instead, check out Etsy for everything you need to trim up your tree.

And if you’re wondering where to see the best Christmas lights in Kansas this year, Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane in Overland Park never disappoints:

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More to Explore

Winter In Kansas

Katie Lawrence | November 06, 2023

What are the best drive-thru light shows in Kansas?

The best drive-thru light shows in Kansas are:

Located in Wichita, this dazzling display is the largest drive-thru light show in Kansas. It features over a million lights and all sorts of festive displays, plus a multicolored tunnel that's sure to enchant visitors of all ages.

Christmas on Bradshaw is an enchanting spectacle that boasts an entire neighborhood decked out with holiday cheer. The lights are even synchronized to music - all you have to do is tune your radio to a specific station!

Should I go hiking in winter in Kansas?

Hiking is one of our favorite winter activities to enjoy in the Sunflower State. Some of the best winter hikes in Kansas include:

This easy, 2.8-mile trail is gorgeous year-round, but especially when it's covered in snow.

Featuring canyons, bluffs, and grasslands, Horsethief Canyon makes an idyllic winter hike. It's still, calm, and quiet, allowing for effortless communion with nature.

We highly suggest throwing on your winter coat and braving the trails at Clinton State Park at sunrise or sunset. Sure, it may be chilly outside, but winter skies in Kansas are truly something else. Make sure you bring a good camera to capture some breathtaking photos!

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