(440) 286-9516
I was wondering if there is a bug hiding in here for the winter this year. If you touch this casing, it has a little give to it but is definitely a strong exterior. We found it on the side of the fire pit at welton's gorge.
I was wondering if there is a bug hiding in here for the winter this year. If you touch this casing, it has a little give to it but is definitely a strong exterior. We found it on the side of the fire pit at welton's gorge.
Wow, nice find!
That looks like the egg case from a mantis. (There’s a terrific word for a mantis egg case: ootheca. Try that out next time you’re playing Scrabble!) It likely contains dozens (or hundreds) of mantis eggs, which will spend the winter inside and emerge in the spring.
Mantis egg cases do a superb job of insulating the eggs inside. I’ve always thought they bear a remarkable resemblance to the expanding-foam insulation that humans are so fond of!
[Chinese mantis laying eggs at Observatory Park]
This webpage from Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Conservancy offers a great comparison of the egg cases of some of the same mantis species that we find locally.
Let’s see what emerges in the spring!
-Naturalist Chris Mentrek
Do you enjoy special events, family activities, experiences in Nature, programs for seniors or or several/all of the above? Sign up for our emails tailored to your interests by selecting the proper categories below. We promise we won’t flood your inbox – just send you what we think you’ll like.
We look forward to keeping in touch!