Ooths are darkening - are they approaching their hatch time?

[Adrenna]

I've been stalling putting them outside since it's so dang cold in Alabama. I've noticed that Betty's ooth are starting to darken - does that indicate maturity?

I'm not exactly prepared for 4 ooth to hatch in my house.

 

[Ranitomeya]

It is not recommended that you keep oothecae indoors that you intend to have diapaused unless you keep them in the fridge. The darkening of the oothecae is not unusual, oothecae will darken over time as they age--it is not an accurate way to tell how close an ootheca is to hatching. Most mantids that have naturalized in the United States have oothecae that are capable of surviving outdoors even in weather conditions cold enough for snow. If they've been kept too warm, you may soon have them hatching out.

 

[hibiscusmile]

The cold will kill them to, they will have no food as 1st instar, so keep them babies inside and put for sale on forum!