An ootheca (: oothecae ) is a type of egg capsule made by any member of a variety of species including Mollusca (such as Turbinella laevigata), Mantidae, and .
Etymology
The word is a Latinized combination of
oo-, meaning "egg", from the Greek word
ōon (cf. Latin
ovum), and
theca, meaning a "cover" or "container", from the Greek
theke. Ootheke is Greek for
ovary.
Structure
Oothecae are made up of structural
and tanning agents that cause the protein to harden around the eggs, providing protection and stability.
The production of ootheca convergently evolved across numerous insect species due to a selection for protection from parasites and other forms of predation, as the complex structure of the shell casing provides an evolutionary reproductive advantage (although the fitness and lifespan also depend on other factors such as the temperature of the incubating ootheca).
Oothecae are most notably found in the orders
Blattodea (Cockroaches) and
Mantodea (Praying mantids), as well as in the subfamilies
Cassidinae (
Coleoptera) and
Korinninae (
Phasmatodea).
Functions
The ootheca protects the eggs from
microorganisms,
parasitoids,
Predation, and weather. Its composition and appearance vary depending on species and environment.
Image gallery
File:Cockroach egglaying 1.jpg|Female cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) with ootheca
File:Blatella germanica cdc.jpg|Female cockroach ( Blatella germanica) with ootheca
Mantis ootheca in Marine Park (91115).jpg|Chinese mantis ootheca
File:Mantis ootheca Sliced open (Hierodula patellifera).jpg|Sagittal section of mantis ootheca ( Hierodula patellifera) already hatched out
File:Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa religiosa) Ootheca 02.jpg|Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca in Ontario, Canada.
File:Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa religiosa) Ootheca 06.jpg|Damaged praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca in Ontario, Canada.
File:Mantodea oothecae-Kadavoor-2016-03-25-001.jpg|Praying mantis ootheca in Kerala, India
File:Ootheca of a Blattodea.jpg|Ootheca of a blattodea
File:Blaptica dubia ootéka.jpg|alt=Blaptica dubia|Blaptica dubia – ootheca in an artificial colony
Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca Cap Bon.jpg|Praying mantis ( Mantis religiosa)
See also
-
Sang piao xiao, mantis oothecae used in traditional Chinese medicine
-
Egg cases, also known as egg capsules
External links
