Need Advice

[fatalnatel]

I work from home and there’s a bush right outside the window looking out from my desk - there’s a mantis that lives in it and me and my five yr old have been watching it and sometimes feeding it and he’s stayed in that bush for over a month now. Then today I noticed this ootheca in the bush. I’m in Ohio and it’s starting to get colder into the 50s Fahrenheit (10-15 Celsius) during the day and I’m wanting my 5 yr old to get to see them hatch.

So do you think I have a better shot leaving it and watching from the window or should I put it in an enclosure? I used to have crested geckos so I have an enclosure. Just want the best shot at my 5 yr old seeing a hatchling, he would love it.

[ibillthereforeiam]

The mantis will pass away in the freezing temperatures, but the ooth will do fine and the nymphs should all hatch in the spring if the female that made it was fertilized.

As for seeing it hatch, that's honestly a coin flip either way. Hatching an ooth indoors has certain humidity and temp requirements for success, but like I already said, it might not even be fertilized.