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, ...

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 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 ...

Q: I’ve heard that not all of our praying mantis types are native. They’re all good for garden pest control though, right, or are some bad instead? A: Maryland is currently home to five species of ...

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 ...

Even though it happens every fall, I’m always pleasantly surprised to find a praying mantis egg case. In our garden, I found the first one a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure there were others around ...

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 ...

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 ...