ootheca

oo·the·ca | \ ˌō-ə-ˈthē-kə

How to pronounce ootheca (audio)

\

plural oothecae\ ˌō-ə-ˈthē-(ˌ)kē

How to pronounce oothecae (audio)

, -(ˌ)sē \

Definition of ootheca

: a firm-walled and distinctive egg case (as of a cockroach)

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Examples of ootheca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Depending on the species of praying mantis, the ootheca could have approximately 100-200 eggs, which could certainly hatch earlier than expected after spending a month or so in someone's warm home. — Kaitlin Menza, House Beautiful, "Is That a Praying Mantis Egg Sac Hanging Off Your Christmas Tree?," 12 Dec. 2019 Behind the female’s bottomless appetite is the extraordinary size of her egg case, or ootheca, a frothy proteinous mass studded with up to 400 eggs that can amount to half her body weight. — Natalie Angier, New York Times, "Birds Beware: The Praying Mantis Wants Your Brain," 22 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ootheca.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

2 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ootheca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ootheca. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

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