Ootheca Watch

Now that the weather's warming up and it seems spring has sprung, I've been keeping an eye on the ootheca that was laid last October by a big fat mama mantis.


So far, there haasn't been much happening, but that's what the ootheca looked like on Saturday night. From what I've read, it'll be pretty lucky if I catch the mini mantii escaping from their nest. They come out as tiny versions of their parents, but they scatter away very quickly.

I only pass the nest once a day on my way to work, but I always stop - give it a gentle pet with my fingertip and quietly say "oooootheca" to it. I think it will help with their development if they know where they are and that everything's alllllright in the oooootheca.