Ooths and sunlight

[Domanating]

I read something in this forum months ago that lack of sunlight was not an issue for the egg development. I'm wondering if that's true at all. Everyone and everything likes sunlight specially insects, which are cold blooded. Sunlight is healthy in many ways, if taken with moderation obviously.

My guess is an ooth kept outside, exposed to all natural factors, will have much more hatch-lings than kept indoors, inside a fridge or the garage. Direct sunlight might be a key factor in egg development and could reduce the amount of unexplainable deaths occurring.

 

[CoolMantid]

I am pretty sure it is called a photoperiod, but I may be wrong. For a better hatch they need a day and night cycle. Warmer during the day and cold at night. Longer warm days and warm nights will entice an ooth to hatch (Spring comes with longer days)

 

[Psychobunny]

In the wild, the mantis likes to lay the ooth in a hidden spot were it wont be found by predators.

I've seen ooths buried deep into bushes where the sunlite cant reach.

I believe it has more to do with temp. Warmer, longer days as mentioned.

 

[Termite48]

This is correct, it is not about the light as it is about the temps and humidity. In the plant world the third element does come into play in a big way. But when insects, arachids and other members of the lower animal kingdom lay their eggs it is sometimes with the intent that the eggs never see the light of day and this to improve survival. Indirectly the temperature fluctuations that come about from the longer daytime hours of spring can trigger hatching.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Ditto, gotta agree with them, it stands to reason about the light, but since they hide them, we can't go by the light factor, but once hatched, light is important!

 

[Domanating]

Thanks for info. I think i pretty much rushed with my idea

 

[MantidLord]

I've had Chinese ooths hatch in the dark garage during the summer. It's the heat (and humidity) not really the sunlight. Although I wouldn't be surprised if it varied with species.

 

[Rick]

If that was the case the hatching rate of captive bred mantids would be low. I don't see where a photoperiod is important to egg development as say humidity and temperature are.