What is it?

It’s time for another exciting edition of “What is it?” Well, what is shown in the following photograph? If you think you know what it is, then please leave a comment. The answer will be provided in a post update.

03 FEB 2020 | Occoquan Regional Park | What is it?

Post Update

Congratulations to the two readers who correctly identified the mantis ootheca shown in the preceding photo! (See Comments/Responses, below.)

This is a Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) egg case, as indicated by the distinctive roundish shape of the ootheca. Chinese Mantis is a non-native species.

Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Chinese Mantis ootheca

Another insect ootheca was spotted at a vernal pool located near the terminus of the Hike-Bike Trail, Huntley Meadows Park. This is a Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) egg case, as indicated by the distinctive roundish shape of the ootheca. Chinese Mantis is a non-native species.

14 JAN 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Chinese Mantis ootheca

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.

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Oothecae

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.