Posts Tagged: clothespin

Prey Tell, Where Are All the Mantids?

Prey tell, where are all the praying mantids? Last fall, a Stagmomantis limbata deposited her egg case, or ootheca, on an clothespin on our outdoor clothesline. On April 9, the clothespin sprang to life. Hundreds of nymphs emerged,...

A beautiful gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, is right at home in the lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A beautiful gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, is right at home in the lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Find the praying mantis! In the flood of red and gold lantana blossoms is a gush of green: a beautiful gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Find the praying mantis! In the flood of red and gold lantana blossoms is a gush of green: a beautiful gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A very gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A very gravid praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Well, hello there! The praying mantis eyes the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Well, hello there! The praying mantis eyes the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Day a Clothespin Sprang to Life

Saturday, April 9 was the day a clothespin sprang to life. Some 200 praying mantis nymphs emerged from an ootheca that Mama Mantis (Stagmomantis limbata) had deposited last summer in our pollinator garden in Vacaville. We first noticed...

This is what the ootheca looked like in mid-March. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is what the ootheca looked like in mid-March. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saturday, April 9 was "Hatch Day." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saturday, April 9 was "Hatch Day." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Some of the praying mantis nymphs climbed to the top of a metallic quail sculpture on the clothesline, getting a bird's eye view. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Some of the praying mantis nymphs climbed to the top of a metallic quail sculpture on the clothesline, getting a bird's eye view. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Well, howdy there, sibling! What big eyes you have! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Well, howdy there, sibling! What big eyes you have! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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