thumb|[[Mantis ootheca]]
An ootheca (: oothecae ) is a type of egg capsule made by any member of a variety of animal groups such as mollusks, mantises, and cockroaches. Oothecae are most notably found in the orders Blattodea (cockroaches) and Mantodea (praying mantises), as well as in the subfamilies Cassidinae (Coleoptera) and Corinninae (Phasmatodea).
Functions
The ootheca protects the eggs from microorganisms, parasitoids, predators, and exposure. Its composition and appearance vary depending on species and environment.
Image gallery
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File:Cockroach egglaying 1.jpg|Female cockroach (Periplaneta americana) discharging ootheca
File:Blatella germanica cdc.jpg|Female cockroach (Blatella germanica) discharging ootheca
Mantis ootheca in Marine Park (91115).jpg|Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) ootheca
File:Mantis ootheca Sliced open (Hierodula patellifera).jpg|Sagittal section of hatched-out mantis ootheca (Hierodula patellifera)
File:Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa religiosa) Ootheca 02.jpg|Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca in Ontario, Canada.
File:Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa religiosa) Ootheca 06.jpg|Damaged praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca in Ontario, Canada.
File:Mantodea oothecae-Kadavoor-2016-03-25-001.jpg|Praying mantis ootheca in Kerala, India
File:Ootheca of a Blattodea.jpg|Ootheca of a blattodean
File:Blaptica dubia ootéka.jpg|alt=Blaptica dubia|Blaptica dubia ootheca in an artificial colony
Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca Cap Bon.jpg|Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa)
</gallery>
See also
- Sang piao xiao, mantis oothecae used in traditional Chinese medicine
References
External links
- Photo of a madagascar hissing cockroach ootheca