This gall is the home of a tiny wasp larva. The larva will eat the walls of the gall. Just before pupating, it will chew a tunnel to the edge of the gall. When it becomes a wasp, it will crawl through the tunnel, chew through and then escape to the outside world!
The little holes in these Mimosa fruits are indicative of an insect that ate the developing seeds as larvae. The adult insects have escaped, leaving the holes behind. It is fun to be a "nature detective"!
Praying Mantis nymphs overwinter in the egg case. When the temperatures warm up in the spring the nymphs will emarge from the case. They must spread out quickly though, they will eat each other! Years ago I unknowingly had one of these on my Christmas tree, a couple of days later there were nearly 100 tiny nymphs all over my apartment!
