This was found on some spirea bushes we are removing. There are lots of these on the bushes and they're sort of hard and fibrous inside. Anyone know whose cocoon this is?
What kind of cocoon is this?
Here's another view:
This looks like it could be an egg case (ootheca) of a Chinese mantid, Tenodera aridifolia - see http://tinyurl.com/ar28pg for an image.
Suunto: So are these still active or old ones? There are lots of them on the spirea and I certainly want to keep my praying mantises! If we snip off the cases and place them in some arborvitae, will they live and hatch? Thank you for your prompt response.
If you don't see any obvious holes in the ootheca (see http://tinyurl.com/y99fmkl), the chances are that it still is viable. The primary threats to overwintering oothecae are predators such as birds and small mammals, so you should place them where they will not be easily seen.
I've placed them all well down inside thick arborvitae where they will be protected from winds and predators, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Most of them look to be viable.
Thank you again for your input.
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!)
Good advice, Ned. Thank you. I have already placed these around the garden, tucking them deep into shrubs so they wouldn't suffer so much from the cold and snow we've been having. Not sure whether I placed them correctly, but I'll check at my first opportunity.
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