First time with a female making a new ootheca.

[bugmeso]

So I come home this afternoon with a new batch of crickets and find an ootheca in one of the habitats. Now I had posted that my 1 mantis passed about a month ago. BUT, after releasing many mantis nymphs in mid June around the neighborhood....I had a neighbor call and had a mantis on her car. So I went down and caught it and figured I will house the mantis over the winter like my plans were with the one that passed last month. Also there was another in the next bush, SO I caught that one also.

The first mantis had a large belly and the indications were that it was a she And I believe the second one I caught is a she also.

Now can I leave the female with her ootheca or should I separate them? And what do I do with the ootheca?

Thanks

JB

 

[JP77]

There's a couple things you can do. If you don't want to raise the ooth over winter, you can attach it outside since it sounds like it's a native species that needs a cold period to hatch. If you want to hatch the ooth at your convenience, what I do is take the ooth out of the container and attach it to a stick, leave it at room temp. for a month or so, then pop it in the fridge for a few more months. Then I take the ooth out and let it incubate at warmer temperatures. The ooth is fine in the female's container, she wont disturb it, until you know what you want to do with it.

 

[dmina]

What kind of Mantis is it?

got pics?

 

[Crazy4mantis]

I'd put the ooth in something like a net cage and leave it outside in the shade, misting every so often. It will hatch in the spring. They can stay together, but should be separated before the hatch. the female will probably die by then, though. personally I would keep the female indoors to expand her life span a little and overwinter the ooth outdoors.

 

[bugmeso]

Thanks to all for the responses. I will get a picture or two later today. I forgot to check the "follow this topic" box. (my bad)

OK, here is a pic

 

[TheBeesKnees]

ooh you have a T. sinensis lass there! Their ooths hatch tons of little youngin's. I second what everyone else above has said. Make sure to separate them before a hatch occurs or momma's gonna have popcorn snack.

 

[dmina]

She is a pretty one ... Thanks for sharing...

 

[bugmeso]

You all must have missed a few of my first posts. I purchased 2 ooths in April when I obtaining something else at Agway. Thought I would try it, since 6 years ago we had a major stink bug problem at a facility that my company maintained. The owner had Penn State come and they place MANY ooths around the wooded property in order to control the stink bug problem upon the hatching of the ooths. It did help the following spring and summer.

Anyway, one of the ooths I purchased in April hatched about 150 to 175 nymphs. I then released them all around my neighbor hood. I did catch one in mid August and wanted to keep it indoors for the winter. But during it's last molt a problem happen and she landed on her back and was severely deform. She passed about 3 weeks ago. The my neighbor called and said she had one her car....I run down and caught it and then found a second one in one of the bushes. So here we are

I will wait until spring to hatch the new ooth.