Joanna Gaines Issued With Severe Warning From Fans After Sharing Video of 'New Friend' in Her Home

Joanna Gaines got a lot more than she bargained for when she shared a seemingly innocent video of a praying mantis she found inside her home : a massive wave of concerned messages from fans warning her to proceed with caution when spending time with her "new friend."

Gaines, 46, posted a clip of herself holding up the insect in the kitchen of her home near Waco, TX , before transferring it to a small potted plant and then moving it to a flower in her backyard.

"Found a new friend in the house today," she said in the clip set to Louis Armstrong's popular rendition of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." "I did think about making a tiny leash so he could be my new pet. ... I think he misses me."

Despite the sweet nature of the video, Gaines' followers quickly inundated her with warnings about her new pal, noting that praying mantises can not only leave you with nasty bites, but also lay eggs in your home, which has the potential to lead to a nightmare infestation.

"Just hope it didn't lay eggs in your house! We had that happen once. The hatch was CRAZY!" one person wrote.

Another added: "I had no idea they would bite ... but my husband got bit by one a few years ago ... he said it was pretty painful!"

A third cautioned: "They will go for your nose! Seriously—it's true—it happened to me by a full sized one—frightening!"

Others noted that the insects are known to prey on small birds, including hummingbirds.

"They can eat a bird," someone commented. "Watch a video of them eating a hummingbird or a lizard. I despise them!"

Another simply warned: "Just don't let it near your hummingbird feeder!"

However, some joined Gaines in celebrating the praying mantis' visit to her home, and a few shared their own sweet anecdotes about the bugs or offered name suggestions for the HGTV star's visitor.

A few noted that praying mantises are also commonly recognized as a sign of good luck and fortune.

"If one comes in your house it is believed to bring you luck and good fortune," one person shared.

Another wrote: "Good luck! Money coming your way."

According to pest control experts Orkin , praying mantises are not known to be aggressive, and will bite only if they feel threatened. Even then, the insect's bites are nonvenomous.

Similarly, praying mantises more commonly lay their eggs outside of people's homes, often in the backyard. However, they have been known to use indoor plants for this purpose on occasion.

In 2018, a video that showed a family's home being invaded by hundreds of praying mantises after one of the insects laid eggs in their Christmas tree went viral.

At the time, biology professor Mark Willis told Fox8 that while such an occurrence is "rare," it is not unheard of.

"The females will lay their eggs on any kind of plant. It's not like they're seeking out pine trees to lay their eggs on. It's a very rare occurrence, but sometimes it happens," Willis explained.

Pest control professionals advise that the best way to deal with praying mantises and their eggs is to trap them in a container and remove them outside, rather than killing them because they are so useful in controlling other insects.