Wow! I left her to do her business. and when I came back, she was already halfway out of her skin! Now, for the "hard part" ---> she has to hang there till she hardens, in the meantime, she will puff those wings out...
This is her final molt. After she had her wings, she will be full sized.
edit: Here are a few pics after the successful molt:
Nice Wings!
He was TIRED after that molt. I left him to harden, and after a few hours, his wings turned brown and green.
I gave him time to rest, and the following day, I fed him a little chicken. He also ate 6 small crickets! (PIG!)
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 05-14-2005).]
After that final molt, I am pretty sure "Stinky" is a boy. He is very different then "Manty" was. She was VERY sociable and active, while I was doing my online classes, she would often just walk around the monitor and computer desk, exploring and wandering. She NEVER displayed that "eeeek" pose that Stinky seems to do in a heartbeat. 'Stinky" just tends to sit in one spot. ONE thing that I have found odd about Stinky is that he often will hang upside down in his tank (which is normal), and have one leg floating off into space. It isn't damaged or anything, he just will do this all the time. Wacky.
Perhaps the females are more active then the males, Stinky was the first male mantis that I ever kept.
My last captive mantis, Pat, died. I hope his/her siblings fare better in the wild than he did as a captive. I have yet to find any of his/her family in the yard. (an area I do not mow).
It may be true what is in that thread... meat is bad for you. I ran out of critters for a couple of days so dropped in a speck of ground round... Pat was found in the bottom of his/her terrarium, weak and almost immoble. He/She died this morning.
There was some debate if we were going to pull his/her feeding tube. Deciding that an insect did not want to be a vegetable, we were forced to accept the reality that Pat was fated to die.
Pray for Pat. And next time Stinky poses... know that Stinky is praying for my little androgynos mantid.
Poor Pat. A few of mine went that way. I keep running short of flies as they don't want to keep producing so I have been feeding them chicken to tide them over. I am finding I need to keep the bottle warm for the flies to produce. I should post some pics of these guys. This week I had fifty of them by Friday I was down to fifteen so you know what they have been up to. The one plump mantis I figure was the culprit was pulled out of the cage and put into his own home with a few pinhead crickets to keep him company. There is one different mantis that has a lame left claw he has some trouble getting around but he does it. I will have to get another container for him. These guys are fun. I have gotten everything from ewww to cool talking to people about them. Kevin
My last captive mantis, Pat, died. I hope his/her siblings fare better in the wild than he did as a captive. I have yet to find any of his/her family in the yard. (an area I do not mow).
It may be true what is in that thread... meat is bad for you. I ran out of critters for a couple of days so dropped in a speck of ground round... Pat was found in the bottom of his/her terrarium, weak and almost immoble. He/She died this morning.
There was some debate if we were going to pull his/her feeding tube. Deciding that an insect did not want to be a vegetable, we were forced to accept the reality that Pat was fated to die.
Pray for Pat. And next time Stinky poses... know that Stinky is praying for my little androgynos mantid.
Sorry to hear about the passin' of yer mantis. It happens. A few of mine went that way, and it turned out they were trying to molt, and ran into trouble. That happens too. I found a few mantids that died in "mid-molt" when I was a kid. There's a reason why so many are born - very few grow up to be adults.
I took Stinky out yesterday, and he was pretty active for a change. did the "eek" move a few times, but he calmed down after that.
Tinker, Glad to hear you have a bunch left. That plump one should do well, did he eat aby of the pinhead crickets yet? That one with the lame claw shoul dbe ok, but he may have trouble molting, and catching food. Hope he makes it.
My wife keeps saying "ugh, it looks like a roach" , and I never really though so (except for the butt), but now, lookin' at him... *shudders*
I released all but one of mine last week. Picked up some crickets on Friday and the one I kept feasted over the weekend. The crickets were a bit large for him, since he's only maybe an inch and a half long, but he managed. One or two escaped his grasp, but then he found a little one and sat down to dinner. Last I checked I think he ate maybe three or four over the weekend. He's a bit timid too. Doesn't seem to like being screwed with and actually runs when I try to get him to climb on my finger. Oh well, they don't strike me as lap-pets anyway. I'll probably end up letting him go as well.
Well I still have to left in seperate cages. I also gave a few to my mother who teaches fourth grade. Her students are learning about insects right now and really enjoy looking at them.
I used to have one that had an extra segment in its arms. Kinda like having an extra elbow. It was having trouble picking up food and it got eaten by one of the other manti before I could seperate it into another cage.
The two that I kept are at the wing bud stage and can eat 1-2 crickets per day if I let them. I wanted to end up with a male and female, but it looks like I have both males. The cool thing about the ones I have is that they are green instead of brown. They do have some brown areas on them, but are mostly green. -Mark
Lefty (the one with the gimp claw) is in his own container now and had his head buried in a piece of chicken last I saw. I had my first one molt this aft and it wasn't the plump one but geez this guy is big now. He was eying the others and thats it into another container. I find some of these critters are nervier than others as some small ones will tackle crickets and others just jump out of the way so yes the smaller crickets are being eaten and the bigger ones will get their day soon enough. The plump one went to school with my Son today and was a hit. I gave his teacher the ooth because she was interested in one and the boy told her more mantises would be emerging. There was a strong tone of "what do I do with this thing I don't want it hatching!" in her voice on the phone message she left. I will post some pics when I get a new battery for my digicam. Kevin
I let mine go the other day, he had his final molt a week ago and felt was time to move out of the house. I hope he is doing well and has made good friends that will not get him into drugs or gangs, hate to see him in the newspaper involved in a bank robery or something. <<sniff>><<sniff>> it's so hard when the youngest moves out for the first time.
Had one pass on today, he started to molt and didn't make it out of his skin. The other dozen or so are doing well though. Whats up with the Mantis cam? Kevin
Had one pass on today, he started to molt and didn't make it out of his skin. The other dozen or so are doing well though. Whats up with the Mantis cam? Kevin
I don't always have it running. Stinky doesn't tend to showboat the way manty did. He tends to just sit there.
Well Rumor, "Lefty" died yeterday. He just started to slow down and that was it. There are seven remaining. My son's teacher wants one so one will leave the nest soon. Thought I would share some pics. After playing with my digi and not getting satisfactory pics I had an idea. I went and found my magnifying glass and was able to take some half decent pics. This one isn't named and he or she has had its first molt so it gives an idea of the size. Kevin
It was time for Stinky to leave the nest. I put him on the bush, and took this last pic. He kept trying to climb back onto my hand...The memory card was full, and went inside to make some room. When I came back. he was gone.
The temperature is HOT enough for him now, (it was almost 90 today) There are plenty of bugs outside that he can eat. I just had the feeling that he wasn't too happy in his enclosure, and wouldn't last much longer if he stayed inside. "Manty" thrived in her tank, she was a very active mantis who ran all over the place. Stinky just sat in one place, and hardly took interest in his food. He may not find a mate, but at least he can fly around and do his thing. maybe I'll see him again outside, hangin' out near a light.
Hope you enjoyed readin' this thread. I know it may have been odd to have this in a car forum, but a bunch of you had asked for the egg cases and I think it entertained you a little...I know I found it neat watching Stinky grow and molt... I'll bump this once or twice just to see if anyone else has any more pics of their mantids...
Stinky leaving AND Stimpy leaving on the same day!!!
Coincidence?
There are too many uncanny details that makes me think that this wasn't planned all along.
1) Both start with 'S' and end with 'Y' 2) Both ryhme 3) Both have 6 characters 4) Both liked to just kinda sit back (though the interest in food thing is an entirely different matter) 5) Both carnivours 6) Both liked to pray
"If you love something, let it go...., If it does not return, hunt it down and kill it."
I'm sure I'll have more mantids in the future. They are neat critters.
As for the Stimpy/Stinky issue, it's a coincidence. But It is kinda sad to see a few old members leave due to bad blood. The Stimp seemed to be more sarcastic then genuinely "negative". He may have had some beef with a few other members, but that's kinda normal in any group. He left subtley (perhaps he's like Stinky, still here, but we just don't see him) Hope so. His Stimpyisms were often very funny, and I hope to see him on here again.
Good luck Stinky. Rumor if you wanted lively I remember something about Herb Tarlek, some dancing geese and a hotplate. I will be releasing mine when they get bigger but I am going to keep one of the active ones. Here is a pic of Gene my biggest one so far. This one I named and my Son named the rest. We have a Gene and a Dash, Manty, Pegasus and a Lucky.
Good luck Stinky. Rumor if you wanted lively I remember something about Herb Tarlek, some dancing geese and a hotplate. I will be releasing mine when they get bigger but I am going to keep one of the active ones. Here is a pic of Gene my biggest one so far. This one I named and my Son named the rest. We have a Gene and a Dash, Manty, Pegasus and a Lucky.
I hope Rasputin likes his new pal.
Cool pic! Nice banana. Glad to see you have Rasputin well contained
whats the best way to set up a breeding ground for the fruit flies? i dont really know what to do with those guys? i do you set them up in their own little tank? any help on this woul be helpfull! thanks
Washington, DC TERRORIZED BY ANGRY MANTID! ---------------------------------------------------------------
AP Washington, DC
A local photographer happened upon a savage attack from a giant mantid today. This photo was taken just seconds before the monster attacked and ate two unsuspecting children just outside the Capital building. Gurtude Hossifrinaker and her cousin Jebidiya Kerwhimplstien had wandered off from their parents to meet a seemingly polite and friendly mantid, only to be eaten moments later. The local police department has issued a warning to all visitors and residents to avoid giant mantids at all costs. Investigators say that this monster insect was the result of genetic engineering by an evil scientist who goes by the name of "FieroRumor." They ask that anyone with information as to the whereabouts of this man contact your local authorities immediately, and strongly advise that this person not be approached. They believe that he has trained other giant mantids to guard his compound with deadly force, and it is further suspected that "FieroRumor" has recruited others to assist in genetic engineering of mantids with the goal of using these creatures to help him take over the world.
whats the best way to set up a breeding ground for the fruit flies? i dont really know what to do with those guys? i do you set them up in their own little tank? any help on this woul be helpfull! thanks
I bought the flightless flies from the nyworms site that Taijiguy found - that one produced more then enough flies... It was basically a large "chinese soup" container with a special top (to let air through). It's bets to order it before or soon after the mantids hatch. It's also best if you give them a few days to laye eggs (the netx generation of flies) before you feed 'em to the mantids.
That Mantid that F-I-E-R-O found is frightening. My Mantids were bred as retrievers. They were all born with the ability to drive. The problems was, I forgot that they can't reach the gas pedal. Next batch, I'll add those re-enginered feet.
Hi Rumor. I have three left and two are in their second last molt. I am having fun with them, I was consodering ordering another case and starting again. I will post some pics over the next day or two right now I've got to go to work. CYA, Kevin.
Rumor! Rumor! One of your prodigal children has returned!
No joke, this is one of your babies. EVERY mantis I have seen in Texas is green. "It's not easy bein' green..." And this makes the first wild brown mantis I have seen. I kept about 6 from each case you sent, and set the other 200 or so free. I was told that: "If you really love something, set it free. If it returns, you know it wants to be with you. If it does not return... then hunt it down and kill it."
So anyway, One of my brown mantis babies has returned and is living on a prickly pear plant that I captured. I tried to set the cactus free, and the next morning it was still on the porch, so I kept it and put it in a pot. I was getting ready to water my POW cactus, and I saw him hanging out on one of the extensions. I dropped the water, and grabbed the digicam, I knew you'd be excited to see a Yankee mantis toughing it out in 100 degree Texas heat.
Here's a few pics, and I got to play around with the macro mode of my camera a bit.
I am trying to think of a name... I thought about naming him "Tex." But then thought that was too cliche... So then I thought I would name him "Prick," based on where I found him. But while funny, though my non mantis loving wife, and the mantis himself would not find that near as humorous as I currently find it.
So I am just shortening the name to "RICK." Chris... meet Rick. My wild mantis buddy.
I love that last pic! I have since seen him still hanging around on the prickly pear a couple of time.
Hey, you, uhm... wouldn't happen to know where I could get the 1st season of Magnum P.U. on DVD, wouldya?
Those are cool pics! I doubt he's one of the ones I sent ya though... He looks more like a brown Hierodula Patellifera... (look at his curved butt and spotted colors on his legs)
early today iwas getting in my car and saw a swarm of about 20 or so mantis going across the parking lot but they were huge easyly 8-12 inches and bright green it was cool was thinking or nabbing one but figured it would only windup as bird food.
early today iwas getting in my car and saw a swarm of about 20 or so mantis going across the parking lot but they were huge easyly 8-12 inches and bright green it was cool was thinking or nabbing one but figured it would only windup as bird food.
A SWARM of them?!? 8-10 inches ?!?!? Does the water glow in the dark near you?
hahahahaha no the water doesnt glow but i wouldnt swim in it and if i ate seafood i sure as hell wouldnt eat it out of the water around here.we also get some really neat dragonflies too big and many diffrent colours.
My Mantids were bred as retrievers. They were all born with the ability to drive. The problems was, I forgot that they can't reach the gas pedal. Next batch, I'll add those re-enginered feet.
