Question

What is an ootheca?What is it's advantage?

Answer 1

An ootheca (plural oothecae) is an egg mass produced by several different groups of insects. Most notably Praying mantids and cockroaches. Oothecae contain many eggs with a protective outer covering. In the case of mantids the ootheca can contain several hundred eggs.


The ootheca protects the eggs from microorganisms, parasitoids, predators, and weather; the ootheca maintains a stable water balance through variation in its surface, as it is porous in dry climates to protect against desiccation, and smooth in wet climates to protect against oversaturation.Its composition and appearance vary depending on species and environment.