What is this thing that looks like a piece of foam stuck to a blueberry cane?
This is a Chinese Mantid ootheca on a blueberry cane.
Justin Ballew ©2025, Clemson Extension
What Is a Chinese Mantid Ootheca?
This is the ootheca, or egg mass, of the Chinese mantid (Tenodera aridifolia). Chinese mantids are nonnative predatory insects that are much larger than the native Carolina mantids.
What Do Chinese Mantids Eat?
Mantids are generalist predators that will prey on just about any insect they can catch, even each other, if other prey is scarce.
How Many Eggs Are Inside a Chinese Mantid Ootheca?
Oothecae, like the one pictured, contain up to 600 eggs protected by the dense foam-like structure. The eggs hatch, and hundreds of tiny mantids will emerge as the weather warms.
How Big Can Chinese Mantids Get?
When mature, males will be around 3 inches long, while females will reach over four.
Learn more about the lifecycle and behavior of Chinese mantids.
