Oodles of Ootheca
- Marisa Nagele
- Mar 4, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 7
What is that weird styrofoam-looking glob on that branch? It is an ootheca!
Still confused? Well, you came to the right place!
What is an ootheca?
An ootheca is a mass of eggs laid by many different species, but most notably from cockroaches and praying mantids.
Where do I find a praying mantis ootheca?
An ootheca can be found on bushes and shrubs, trees, or in a field on grasses.
What should I do if I find one?
It depends! Here in Pennsylvania we have a few different species of praying mantis including the European mantis, Chinese mantis and Carolina mantis. They all have slightly unique oothecae. The Chinese mantis have rounder, puffier oothecae. Both European and Carolina mantids lay more elongated oothecae and the Carolina mantis has color variations.
The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is the only native species of mantis we have here in Pennsylvania. If you should find one of their oothecae, leave it! They can be very beneficial to controlling garden pests and invasive species, like the Spotted Lanternfly.
Should you see a non-native ootheca, conservationists recommend disposing of it to stop the spread of non-natives that threaten the native species.
Chinese mantids will get quite large and will eat native amphibians, hummingbirds and the endangered Monarch butterfly.
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Thanks for being curious today!
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