What are these, and should I kill them?

There are a couple of these strange looking “cocoons“, mostly located on the shady side of the t-posts I have holding up the fence around my garden and Orchard.

What are these, and should I kill them while I can?

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Looks like they could be praying mantis sacks.

http://www.moplants.com/protect-praying-mantis-egg-cases-in-spring-gardens/
https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/pet-your-praying-mantis

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I agree, looks like praying mantis egg sacks. Leave them alone.

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OK, thanks. Definitely don’t want to hurt those.

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More specifically those are from north America’s native species, the Carolina mantis.

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