Hi! DN> Got to witness something that I always think of as quite special - a DN> mantid ovipositing (that means laying eggs... and an ootheca is an egg-case) DN> Like many insects, these things generally exist in the winter only in DN> the form of eggs tucked away somewhere safe - at this time of year (it's DN> autumn in Oz remember) the adult female is getting cold, her prey is DN> scarce, and to ensure the continuation of her species she has to make a DN> little foamy ootheca before her death. Come spring, ichneumons DN> permitting, out will come a little regiment of baby mantids, at first DN> hanging from silk threads, then going out to make their way in the world. DN> I don't know whether I've managed to express myself well enough, but it DN> is something that to me is quite touching. DN> Needless to say, when I saw this one, I got my camera and took some DN> snaps. It's Orthodera ministralis, the Garden Mantid. These things also DN> have some pretty spectacular flash/display colouration.
DN> http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/mantid.jpg DN> As you can see, it's just finishing up the ootheca, and had scarpered DN> five minutes later. Fascinating story and excellent illustration thereof <g>... Being able to capture the Nature in its action is always a great success for a photographer. At least so I think. Thanks for sharing. Boris ([EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED])
