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Mantodea
In autumn the female will lay her eggs before she dies with the frost. She often deposits them on a branch or twig, but also leaves them on walls, fences and eaves. They are surrounded by a frothy liquid, called ootheca, which hardens into an egg case about the size and shape of a cigarette filter. The following spring the nymphs hatch and burst out of the case in a small army of hungry youngsters, each the size of a small ant. From birth mantis are predators. The nymphs immediately begin attacking leafhoppers, aphids and even small flies.
Foothills of Santa Catalina Mts. near Tucson.
Spotted on Nov 3, 2013
Submitted on Nov 30, 2013
1 Comment
Probably Stagmomantis californica because of its light color and location. The more common S. limbata has dark ootheca.