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The name for a Mantis egg case is "ootheca"
Back in mid-October, I noticed a freshly created Preying Mantis egg case by the back gate. It was on an Aeonium stem.
Mom, is that you?
By pure luck, yesterday morning I saw the Mantis nymphs emerging. "Nymphs" are an immature form of an insect that does not change greatly as it grows.
Mantis closest relatives are cockroaches and termites, two quite undesirable creatures. Mantis, however, have the virtue of eating insect pests that harm to plants.
Cool, yes? I've seen many oothecas in the garden, but this was the first opportunity to see the new Mantis emerging.
Yes! I've never seen them when they're that small.
ReplyDeleteThey were tiny! That the photos came out okay was a surprise.
DeleteWhoa - that's wonderful that you got to see them emerge! Such otherworldly creatures, and SO desirable in a garden... Great photos! That last one looks like I would imagine a space alien...
ReplyDeleteWith those black eyes, they did look like space aliens!
DeleteHello Hoover Boo,
ReplyDeleteYour garden must be a special one. How wonderful it must be to have the Mantis and it's
baby's in the garden. Beautiful creatures. Great Photographs of it.
have a beautiful weekend
Rosehugs Marijke
Thank you Marijke.
DeleteI hope your weekend is lovely and full of roses!
Great experience. Thanks for sharing. Cover of National Geographic this month is how fast insects are disappearing. Always thought they would inherit the earth long after we disappeared. Good reality check.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started! ;^)
DeleteExcellent! What timing, and great photos. There's a video going around of a praying mantis attacking and basically eating the face off a Asian giant hornet (aka murder hornet), it's a bit harsh but good to know there's a creature who can give this new scary invader a run for it's money.
ReplyDeleteI saw the site for that video...did not want to watch it!
DeleteThe news about attaching tiny GPS locators to a captured hornet so their nest can be located and destroyed...thought that was a good use for technology!
Cool to see, and even better it looks as if the egg case is from the native mantis and not one of the Asian species. I've actually begun to go against everything I was taught as a child and have started to destroy the Asian ones as I find them. Last year they were all over and watching them decimate my garden's Monarch migration was the last straw.
ReplyDeleteNot sure on the species here. Already lots of butterflies here this year. Have not seen a Mantis grab one. (Thank goodness!)
DeleteIt is always exciting to see nature in action. A fun sighting. Even though I have seen many egg cases I have only watched the grand opening one time. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteWow! So cool!
ReplyDeleteOurs sometimes emerge indoors, then I take a piece of paper, and very carefully escort that tiny translucent whisper of movement, out into the garden where it at least won't be trodden on.
ReplyDelete