Help with taking care of European mantis ootheca, and is it too late?

[Crocodylidae]

Hi,

So 1 month ago, I posted about finding a wild European mantis, and releasing it but having kept it for a few nights in a terrarium. Something I forgot to check and ask about, is the ootheca she had made during these few nights.

It's been 1 month, and it's still attached to the terrarium (it is attached in the corner of the tall terrarium, but also a bit attached to the net I used to close the terrarium). I have not put it in the fridge, or sprayed it with water because some things happened and I completely forget. I still really want to have some baby mantids coming from it, though, in the chance that it might be fertilized. Is it too late now? Do I actually have to do anything to care for it? Also, is the fridge step necessary? I'm not sure my parents will be happy about me putting that in the fridge, and like I said, it's a bit attached to the net part so I'm not sure how to remove it nicely.

 

[Tbone192]

Hi,

So 1 month ago, I posted about finding a wild European mantis, and releasing it but having kept it for a few nights in a terrarium. Something I forgot to check and ask about, is the ootheca she had made during these few nights.

It's been 1 month, and it's still attached to the terrarium (it is attached in the corner of the tall terrarium, but also a bit attached to the net I used to close the terrarium). I have not put it in the fridge, or sprayed it with water because some things happened and I completely forget. I still really want to have some baby mantids coming from it, though, in the chance that it might be fertilized. Is it too late now? Do I actually have to do anything to care for it? Also, is the fridge step necessary? I'm not sure my parents will be happy about me putting that in the fridge, and like I said, it's a bit attached to the net part so I'm not sure how to remove it nicely.

You could try increasing humidity and temperature for a few weeks or so. If that doesn't work just keep the enclosure somewhat humid but don't directly water the eggs. In the wild the eggs overwinter and hatch in the Spring. Since your progenitor was wild, I wouldn't be surprised if one Spring morning you find hundreds of larvae wriggling about.