Early Chrismas

[Silkmoth]

I got a surprise chrismas gift last night! Little baby praying mantids! I had left what I thought was an oothecae that was infertile in an open jar near my kitchen sink. Was I wrong!

I rounded them up and put them in a net cage. I will get them fruit flies today. Im lucky the ooth is small, only about 40-50 nymphs in it.

[Mentat]

Congrats on your babies ! Can't imagine a Mantis round up rodeo . Are they as elusive as crickets or easier to catch?

[Silkmoth]

These little guys are pretty well behaved. Its easy to get them to fall into a cup when they were on the wall. They were attracted to the light above my sink. They instinctively jump so in the cup they go and into a net cage. I went and got fruitflies in Bangor.
I didnt have the heart to make them into frog food. These are the first of a new generation.

[MOTHRA49]

I love raising mantids. They are quite friendly when born.
Like they know to come to you to eat. I raised thousands of them. Starting in small clear plastic cups with a coffee filter on top held with a rubberband.
Be sure to mist with some water twice a day.
What kind are you raising.
The easiest are the Chinese.
I tried Orchids but they are harder. Will try again next Spring.

[Silkmoth]

Thousands! Wow,thats alot of babies! I have hierodula,chinese, eucomonella and one little lady, I cant remember what she is. I love my babies, one of my hierodula ooths hatched also so now I have lots of extra mouths to feed!
I also have a hierodula Venosa female. Shes dying tonight, she lived a good life. I was not able to find her a male so no next generation. Maybe another time. Im holding her now, letting her know she's not alone.

[Truffs1178]

I have raised European, African, Indian flower and Egyptian mantids before and the Egyptians were the easiest in my opinion. I hope all yours do well.

Sorry about the older female.

[MOTHRA49]

Thousands! Wow,thats alot of babies! I have hierodula,chinese, eucomonella and one little lady, I cant remember what she is. I love my babies, one of my hierodula ooths hatched also so now I have lots of extra mouths to feed!
I also have a hierodula Venosa female. Shes dying tonight, she lived a good life. I was not able to find her a male so no next generation. Maybe another time. Im holding her now, letting her know she's not alone.

I love the Orchids.
I raised 2 girls and purchased a male but I think I got him too late.
He was such a little guy compared to them.
Sad thing was.......I had one girl out for about an hour and she waited for him to make a move.
Nothing
I put her sister about a foot in front of her.............he walked past to the sister.
She watched him walk right by and mount her sister.
She looked so dejected.
I really felt bad for her.
She died a few days later.....he finally noticed her but she did not lay an egg.
I just couldn't let her go.....she is in my frige and I see her every time I open the door.
Because I had to wait to get her from California and her cost and shipping, I did not let her loose in the house like I did some of the Chinese.
We had fun with the Chinese. Had one we called our "Computer Bug".
Always landing on the keyboard while I was typing.
quite amazing.