keeping ootheca outside

[Mystymantis]

So my female Chinese mantises have started laying their ootheca , and this year I want to try leaving some outside in natural conditions to see if I have better hatching success. What is the best way to store them outside? and how to do it, as in what do I put them in, or do I just string them up to a plant maybe? best place to store it? I remember someone saying you put the egg cases in a paper bag, but that isn't really an option since snow and rain would ruin it. I don't have any out door sheds or anything like that sadly, but I have some large plastic chests.

Thanks!

 

[Connor]

I would try and get a little 12x12 net cage  and put the ooth on a stick with some other sticks shielding it inside the cage. But I would also wait a little bit before putting them outside as to it is still pretty hot in my area. but I'm not exactly sure when females lay their ooths in the wild. Good luck with them!

 

[Rick]

I'd just attach them to some weeds, bushes, or something. If you're worried about them being damaged put them in a net cage. You want to ensure that over the winter they don't stay too warm or they will hatch. 

 

[Mystymantis]

Thanks for the advice Rick and Conner. I put my Chinese egg cases outside tied to a bush, and will bring them in when it gets warmer in the early Spring.