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.

[MOTHRA49]

I was raising silkworms, white, zebra, and tigers and they were interesting also. Felt bad when I had to feed them to the mantids but that was why we started the eggs.
Had a problem when the county sprayed for mosquitoes and I didn't know till I picked the mulberry leaves and the worms got poisoned. I saved the worms that didn't eat but didn't sell them again as I didn't want to pass on any poison.
I may do them again in the Spring.
Never feed silkworms to the mantids in the last stage. It was like feeding super glue....they were stuck to the floor at the elbows.