In a bizarre and spine-tingling turn of events, a woman named Andrea, who goes by the handle @andeekitty on TikTok, experienced a Christmas nightmare when her holiday pine tree became the host to a biblical plague of praying mantises. The creepy-crawly video, which has garnered 4.3 million views, showcases the branches of her Christmas tree teeming with baby praying mantises, turning the festive season into an unexpected horror show.
Andrea’s video caption, “That time our tree hatched a million friends. Only a fake tree from now on,” captures the shock and surprise of discovering this infestation. The video quickly became a viral sensation on TikTok, with viewers expressing a mix of horror and amusement. Many were taken aback by the unexpected twist to Christmas preparations, with some users playfully stating that the tree had decided to lead a prayer session. Others shared their own tales of Christmas tree infestations, adding to the collective shivers of viewers.
While some TikTok users found the praying mantis infestation intriguing, appreciating the fact that mantises are known to consume household pests, others were repulsed by the idea. The video sparked a debate on the potential horrors of real Christmas trees, with some suggesting that the fresh fine smell might not be worth the risk of insect invasions.
Praying mantises laying eggs on Christmas trees is not an uncommon occurrence. The warm temperatures inside homes can trick the mantids into hatching, creating unexpected holiday guests. Experts say you should thoroughly inspect Christmas trees for mantis egg sacs, known as oothecae, before bringing them indoors. These sacs, which are light brown masses, can contain up to 200 eggs.
Despite the initial shock, experts reassure that finding mantises in Christmas trees is not cause for panic. Sydney K. Brannoch, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Washington, suggests gently collecting the nymphs and transferring them to a freezer to humanely euthanize them or to a terrarium for temporary care.
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I was considering buying a real Christmas tree this year, but after reading this story, I have decided to stick with my artificial tree for years to come!
To see the creepy-crawlies, click the video!
