DEAR GARDEN COACH: I found these growths on my crepe myrtle bush when I was pruning. Can you identify them for me? Are they harming my plant? Stephen M., Brentwood DEAR STEPHEN: Consider yourself a ...

At this time of year, some nurseries start selling the egg cases of Chinese mantis as a biological control for the garden. These alien-looking insects are praying mantis and are harmless to humans, ...

I found a praying mantis in my garden recently. It was bright green, about 3 inches long. The turning head and upright posture of mantids gives them a unique appearance. The praying mantis may be ...

Experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman write, “These are the egg cases, called oothecae, of a praying mantis. Produced by the ...

It was truly a Zen moment as I basked in the first warm sunshine that we’ve had after the recent spell of chilly, foggy fall mornings. Yes, it’s easy to be spoiled by our typically mild weather. I was ...

I have several phobias, one being an irrational fear of spiders. The other day I spotted a large spider eying me from the carpet a few feet from my office desk. Certain that it was about to charge and ...

Decades from now, when humanity has been reduced to small populations hiding in catacombs deep beneath the earth from the Praying Mantii Overlords, they will think back to that fateful, accursed day ...

No matter how many times I come across one, I always get a kick when I find a praying mantis egg case. The tan-colored egg cases are somewhat common but hard enough to find that it makes them a bit of ...

“Hey, guys, come quick! Look at this!” exclaimed one of our most senior Master Gardeners at the West Valley Food Garden last week. Our small herd of workers hurried over to see what she was so excited ...

One night in March of last year, a praying mantis crept onto a rooftop garden in India and perched on an artificial pond, waiting intently. When an unsuspecting guppy swam by, the insect snatched it ...

DEAR STEPHEN: Consider yourself a lucky gardener. These growths are actually egg sacks of the praying mantis, a beneficial insect for your garden. Two praying mantis egg sacks. The one on top is from ...