Got in one of "those" packages yesterday!

[Tavia]

Hmm ... What could be in this box?

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_6905_zpsgapo2uk7.jpg

Almost there ...

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_6906_zps8xdyw4m8.jpg

There they all are! 4.3 micro predators of the invertebrate type ...

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_6907_zpspscuhwob.jpg

And here is one of the males closer up.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_6908_zps9fv1sspg.jpg

[jagodzinski]

Very cool! Congrats :)

[Tavia]

About half of our Ghost mantids have molted to L3 and the others are already to L4 in the last few days. I'm very pleased that one of the L4s is starting to turn green! Appears the other 2 will be brown.

Our previous one only made it to L4 and was going to be brown. She failed to molt and died though.

[DollysMom]

Those are so cool! I'm sorry for your loss, but glad that others seem to be doing well!

[Amanda47]

Are these pets, or a really exotic lizard meal? I didn't think mantises lived long... At least not those big green ones that sit on your car and attack you when you try to get in *shivers*

[Tavia]

Are these pets, or a really exotic lizard meal? I didn't think mantises lived long... At least not those big green ones that sit on your car and attack you when you try to get in *shivers*

These are pets, though not ones to get super attached to individually, as they are short lived and many babies/nymphs don't manage to grow all the way to adulthood. The ones we have in the US start out the size of an ant and only live about 9 months and are cannibalistic.

These are a species from Africa that are communal and live up to 18 months. They are one of the more hardy and basic to care for, which is why I got my feet wet with them. What I really want down the road are some Orchid mantids and the person I got these from breeds those too. They are a little harder to care for and don't live quite as long though. Picture is an Orchid mantis courtesy of Google.

I'm afraid of spiders but my brother and I used to catch the wild mantids and keep them for months all the time when we were growing up. They are actually fairly smart, as far as a bug goes. We never could manage to keep the little babies alive long, were only able to keep the adults though.

[Nanci]

Oh cool!!!!!

[DollysMom]

They are amazing. When I lived out west I had a light green female (she had already killed the male after mating) living in a potted rose tree on the deck. One day a carpenter bee flew too close. One less carpenter bee!

[Tavia]

The mantids got an upgrade in caging today, so I took a bunch of pictures. Unfortunately, they are so small it takes a lot of coaxing to convince my camera they DO exist and I DO want it to focus THERE!
Doesn't help that they sway to mimic leaves too. Looks like there are going to be at least 2, possibly 3 green ones so far.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8161_zpsrnsveiku.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8162_zpsahvjw37t.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8163_zpsgdcrgl2c.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8164_zpsokcauawo.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8165_zps3tfpqoqq.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8166_zpsubhypoll.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8167_zpstgywy3md.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8168_zpszvipe5ps.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8169_zpsa1xuzeii.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8171_zpskuh8dcax.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8172_zpslxizty7s.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8173_zpsfaxfcmwt.jpg

[Tavia]

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8174_zps5tnvhw3n.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8179_zps23hiiqyq.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8178_zps4q6rkq5l.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8176_zpsgmyiox69.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8175_zpsbmxq1m71.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8180_zpsq5yu04id.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8181_zpsyyau3rod.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8182_zpsvkkzpgo7.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8183_zps1y59jfpw.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8184_zpsi2oxeijv.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8185_zpsb7ptkmgp.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8186_zpsiv4eau0k.jpg

[Tavia]

And their new house, replacing their tall deli cup.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8187_zpswxsblaqu.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8190_zpsdff2grhd.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8189_zps6enjqmtq.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_8188_zpsf8axn9n6.jpg

[Tavia]

That's cool, was out to pick up some food for these guys and when I got back, the very green one was just finishing up a successful molt to L5. Finally starting to really look like a praying mantis!

I'll have to try and get pictures tomorrow, once they've all reduced the cricket population now in the tank some. Got one of the new employees at the store to get me my crickets (I hate crickets! One large downside to mantids) and that's usually the best way to get them. They aren't experienced at catching the right number asked for and it's better to be over than under, so they tend to give you more. I paid for 12 and got about 20-25 this time.

[Glenaerie]

They are so cool and such teeny little mantids! Will they stay small as adults?

[Tavia]

They get fairly big but they have a long sub adult stage between L6 and L7, where they'll be on the smaller side for a mantis for quite awhile.

This picture is actually of the two adult females who produced my current babies. Kind of shows their adult size. Picture taken by Table Rock Reptiles.

[Tavia]

Took some more pictures over the last few days.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8255_zps9f0csxak.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8255_zps9f0csxak.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8256_zpsgdyyz5sv.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8256_zpsgdyyz5sv.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8258_zpsy98fuwl5.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8258_zpsy98fuwl5.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8259_zpsv0ykyozk.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8259_zpsv0ykyozk.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8260_zpsetbwoutk.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8260_zpsetbwoutk.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8261_zpsyx7msyuw.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8261_zpsyx7msyuw.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8262_zps0qd3rmss.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8262_zps0qd3rmss.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8263_zps1ddhs5j9.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8263_zps1ddhs5j9.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8264_zpsfu9pevdr.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8264_zpsfu9pevdr.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8265_zpsz4fiqkdt.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8265_zpsz4fiqkdt.jpg.html)
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/DSC_8266_zpsejpei1ky.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/MaidofChainz/media/DSC_8266_zpsejpei1ky.jpg.html)

[DollysMom]

Oh wow. They are amazing!

[Tavia]

One of the remaining 4 mantids molted into an adult a few days ago, so I took some pictures of all of them. Got 3 greens and a light brown one, I believe 3 females and 1 male, though I'm not sure about that.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0309_zpsq1faoyrq.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0310_zpsgbfr2pse.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0311_zps2ziacbo5.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0312_zpshjdvch2c.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0313_zpslv6irrlh.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0314_zpsxtoghcck.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0315_zpsd2gslplh.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0316_zpsakzycc1c.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0317_zpsvl74isao.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0318_zps3vhtnn6u.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0319_zpslcy3vmdv.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0320_zpszdjadrtk.jpg

[Tavia]

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0321_zpscrccijrb.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0322_zpsn39kbfff.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0323_zpszqpk1xku.jpg

[daddio207]

SO COOL !


We bought a praying mantis at a show last year but it only lived about a month. It ate and was doubling it's size every week. We went to feed it and it was dead. :(

[DollysMom]

They look so much like crumpled leaves it's hard to see their parts. They are amazing!

[Glenaerie]

Thank goodness for your great closeups, Tavia - their antennae were the clue that finally helped me (somewhat) find their heads. They are fantastic!

[Tavia]

Some kind of crummy pics of the now adults breeding.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0402_zpsbkyionkv.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0404_zpskmzgmhqe.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0405_zpsgxv6mnb9.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/MaidofChainz/Ghost%20Praying%20Mantis/DSC_0406_zpsjtebvid4.jpg

[DollysMom]

Good luck!

[Tavia]

It's a good thing that there is a market in mantis ooths, egg cases. Ended up with 3 females, they lay between 15 to 20 egg cases during adulthood on average and the ooths produce between 20 to 30 babies each! Can definitely end up swamped in them! I'll only keep a couple ooths though and sell the rest.

[DollysMom]

They are very cool.

Learned a new word: "ooth"

[Tavia]

The full word is actually ootheca but it's often shortened to ooth.