Last summer I had a large number of praying mantises all over the property, so I guess it wasn’t a big surprise to find cocoons this winter. I found around five cocoons on T-Posts in the garden, I assume if I look around I can find more. In the spring, when the tiny mantises emerge, I might see a lot around the garden. Look out aphids! Each cocoon can hold 50 to 300 eggs, but it is estimated, only about five live to adulthood.