Ootheca

An egg case or Ootheca of a Chinese Praying Mantis (Tenodera sinensis). A Praying Mantis that is native to Asia and its adjacent islands. I do see a native species of Praying Mantis, Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) on rare occasions. A cause for celebration.

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Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

2 thoughts on “Ootheca”

  1. Glad to see this as I have one on a branch also. Question: is it likely the eggs survived the recent freezes & should I protect it from more?

    1. Hi Julie!

      Not to worry! Those egg cases are made for surviving through the cold of winter. In the spring when the cases experience a few weeks of warm temperatures little Praying Mantises will begin to emerge.

      Thanks bunches for reading my posts!
      Bren

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