Last One Out: Mantis Diary 4

When, by chance, I noticed the praying mantis ootheca hatching there were several nymphs bursting out. By the time I hastily fetched my camera there were only two left, and one of them was almost out of sight. This was on a cane that I’d used for climbing beans.

Yesterday I did a survey of all the oothecas I could find. About half of them had hatched. I can tell by the hanging membranes. The nymphs are so tiny and well camouflaged they are difficult to see on vegetation. I can only hope that they escape to safe places. Not all do. One ootheca I found had been covered by a spider’s web and dead nymphs were entangled in it.