Oh, oh oothecae!

[urbpan]

We wild-collected two Chinese mantis oothecae (egg masses--pronounced Oh oh thus see!) and kept them in a jar until they hatched.


Once they hatched we let the tiny predators out in the yard, focusing on plants damaged by grazing herbivores. This pathetic maple sapling has been reduced to mush by winter moth caterpillars and aphids. Go to work, babies!


There's something so endearing about these minuscule murderers.


Go forth little one! We'll collect your ootheca if you survive to make any.

Comments

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

They're so cute! I wish my garden was full of baby mantids!

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

I think the love, for me, would be dependant on them staying miniscule.

Two year old humans are all sociopaths but they are small so we love them. Full grown? Not so much.