![\"Egg](\"https:\/\/outdooredguys.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/06\/egg-case.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOur\u00a0pond study program turns up a variety of invertebrates. \u00a0One of the most mesmerizing is the phantom midge larvae or ‘glassworm’. \u00a0These larvae prey on mosquito larvae among other things. \u00a0Thank you phantom midges! \u00a0Can you see them in the video?<\/p>\n
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A birthday congratulations is due to one hundred some baby preying mantes. \u00a0We have been using this egg case for show and tell with our visiting classes for three weeks now. \u00a0The hatching was much more spectacular than I expected. \u00a0This event prompted me to figure out the correct plural for “mantis.”<\/p>\n
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It turns out that “mantes,” “mantids,” and “mantises” are all correct plural forms. \u00a0Here is the release footage – quite a bit different from my last post about a snapping turtle release.<\/p>\n
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You’ll notice I found it hard to focus my camera on such a small subject. \u00a0The young mantes are very quick as well.<\/p>\n
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Just for fun I took a slow motion video of the preying mantes leaving the egg case. \u00a0Some of the footage is slowed down, but none of it is sped up. \u00a0Keep your eyes on the individuals at the left who leave the egg case by waving their front pair of legs until they can grasp the nearby plant stem.<\/p>\n
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Pretty amazing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Our\u00a0pond study program turns up a variety of invertebrates. \u00a0One of the most mesmerizing is the phantom midge larvae or ‘glassworm’. \u00a0These larvae prey on mosquito larvae among other things. \u00a0Thank you phantom midges! \u00a0Can you see them in the video? [wpvideo DCH8U6Ns] A birthday congratulations is due to one hundred some baby […]<\/p>\n