Mantis Diary 17- Ootheca

Today I found these two praying mantis egg cases close together on a Buddleia leaf. It’s strange to see two so close together like this and I suspect that it was made by a single mantis. The right-hand ootheca is misshapen, with the chambers flattened, which doesn’t look good for eggs inside.

Counting these as one I have found only 5 ootheca this season. Last season I found 28.

Winter is settling in. We have had a run of frosty mornings, followed by clear, sunny days, but the temperature only gets up to 8ºC, even when there is no wind.