A couple of insect oothecae (sing. ootheca) were spotted while searching for Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies at a vernal pool located near the terminus of the Hike-Bike Trail, Huntley Meadows Park.
03 JAN 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | insect ootheca (egg case)
These oothecae may be mantis egg cases.
03 JAN 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | insect ootheca (egg case)
Post Update: Several members of the BugGuide Facebook group confirmed that these are in fact mantis egg cases. Group member Beatriz Moisset identified the species as Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), as indicated by the distinctive roundish shape of the oothecae. Chinese Mantis is a non-native species.
Introduced from China in 1896 to combat pests. It outcompetes many of the native preying mantises, which are in decline. Source Credit: Species Tenodera sinensis – Chinese Mantis, BugGuide.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Chinese Mantis, egg case, Hike-Bike Trail, Huntley Meadows Park, mantis, ootheca, vernal pool, wildlife photography
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January 20, 2016 at 7:26 am |
[…] The Backstory: It was my good fortune to observe a controlled burn at Huntley Meadows Park on 14 January 2016. One of the target fields is located near the “accidental vernal pool,” my nickname for one of several vernal pools at the end of the Hike-Bike Trail. While I was in the neighborhood, I decided to look around for Autumn Meadowhawks in the hope of extending the state record late-date for dragonflies. Although I didn’t see any dragonflies, I spotted another Chinese Mantis egg case located near two other oothecae observed on 03 January. […]