The site chosen is always the best obtainable within reach, and the wire gauze is constantly adopted as the best foundation obtainable in the cages.
The only Mantis that I was able to observe at the moment of laying her eggs worked upside-down, clinging to the wire near the top of the cover.
My presence, my magnifying-glass, my investigations did not disturb her in the least, so absorbed was she in her labours.

I was able to lift up the dome of wire gauze, tilt it, reverse it, turn it over and reverse it again, without causing the insect to delay her task for a moment.

I was able, with my tweezers, to raise the long wings in order to observe rather more closely what was taking place beneath them; the Mantis took absolutely no notice of me.

So far all was well; the female did not move, and lent herself impassively to all the indiscretions of the observer.

Nevertheless, matters did not proceed as I had wished, so rapid was the operation and so difficult observation.
The end of the abdomen is constantly immersed in a blob of foam, which does not allow one to grasp the details of the process very clearly.
This foam is of a greyish white, slightly viscous, and almost like soapsuds.