Insect and Spider Identification: What kind of cocoon is this?, 1 by nedweenie

nedweenie wrote:
After the first week of 70 degree weather they should hatch. If you miss the big event you'll know that it happened because there will be a line of bits trailing off the ootheca. (You may not see the tiny mantids if they're already dispersed- they tend to take off and/or hide on the underside of leaves.) Be sure to place the ooth so the flat part faces down (like in your second picture there) and give it a bit of clear space (3-4 inches) underneath if you can. It's hard to describe, but they hatch from a seam on the side and make a kind of lifeline of molted skins that they crawl down.

(And yes, in the picture I had set it upside down- that was the first time & I figured out which end was up after watching a female make an ootheca later that year!)