Praying Mantises create egg cases called “oothecae” to protect their eggs from environmental danger like drying out or getting water logged, and from predators. One study describes: “the ootheca itself is formed from the frothy secretions of the accessory glands of the female genital complex, which gradually harden upon mixing”. I’ve always wondered about this process, and today in the Anise Hyssop patch, Goda and I saw it first-hand. #prayingmantis #ootheca #oothecae #frothysecretions #eggcase













