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Hi all, One of my juvenile wahlbergii females is having an issue I haven't seen before. She seems to be eating and acting normally, but each time she eats and her abdomen expands like you would normally see after a mantis feeds, it does not deflate back down. It's almost as if she can't excrete...

Hi all! I'm looking for females preferably around L5/6 of H. Coronatus and P. Wahlbergii. If you are near the LA area local pickup can be arranged! thanks! 

Hi all, I’m planning to move my mantids into a new room soon, but the room has had an orange essential oil diffuser running until today (it will be turned off permanently). I know that orange oil is poisonous for a lot of bugs, would it be safe to move the mantids in a few days?  thank you!

Hi, Some of the older members may remember me, but i haven't been on for over a year so i thought it would be a good idea to re-introduce myself. I am 14 years old and i live in los angeles, california. I enjoy anything to do with nature or science, which is why i started keeping mantids. I...

My idolo just died :( and I want to pin him. can I use regular pins from the art store instead of insect pins? Is there something special about insect pins? thanks

Hi guys My idolo molted to adult just over 2 weeks ago. He seems to be eating off the tips of his forearms or something because over half of the first section (the "claw") is gone. The missing part has gotten steadily bigger (a few days ago I could see the tip of his claw hanging off). I am...

my idolo looks like it will molt to adult tonight. however, I think the enclosure is too short for him to molt in, and I don't have any others. it is an exoterra nano (the smallest one). I'm afraid that his head will touch the floor during the molt. he only has 6 inches from floor to ceiling...

hi guys, my idolo has been sub for about a month now so I think it is time to get ready for him to molt. I was wondering if humidity is needed to stimulate the molt. I know raising the humidity makes the overdue ones molt, but is it necessary to stimulate the final molt in the first place? I...

My male idolo just molted after being stuck at L6 for over 4 months!!! (for those who don't know they usually have no chance of molting if stuck at one instar, other than sub, for more than a month) Even more amazing, I just moved him to a new enclosure and didn't glue twigs to the roof or spay...

Hi guys, My Orchid female is ready for her final molt (yay!). I was wondering how long it takes them to molt because she turned pink and stopped eating like 6 days ago. Her abdomen has been inflated for almost 3 days now. Is it normal for the final molt to take this long? All her previous molts...

Hi guys My school science fair is coming up in 2 weeks. Can anyone think of some cool mantis or insect related projects I can do?

I'm taking a trip to costa rica in a few months. does anyone know any cool species I should look out for? I'm thinking of choeradodis and moss mantis. *drool* ps. sorry I can't bring anything back for you. :P

My sub female orchid! Shes still pink just after a molt! Sorry about the bad phone pic.

Hi guys, I just got a subadult female orchid mantis. I don't have any flies to feed her .I've heard that bees are their natural food source and the seller told me to feed bees, but she still looks too small to eat them in my opinion. (just over 1.5 in.) would she be able to eat one? thanks ps...

I found this on carolina: http://www.carolina.com/insect-traps/bug-napper-lamp/674333.pr?catId=10390&mCat=10337&sCat=10386&ssCat=&question= I also saw one at a reptile fair. Does anyone know if it works or have tried something like this? I'm mostly trying to catch flies and I...

hi guys, One of my idolos has gone kinda funny lately. first I noticed that both front feet (the gripping part of the forearm) have gone black and no longer seem to function. I'm guessing they got damaged somehow. it is always trying to wedge itself into the corner of the glass and keeps...

Hi guys, I have 2 L6 idolos. By abdomen segment count and the small spine at the 2nd to last segment they are both male, but one is larger, has darker coloration, has a larger abdomen, eats more, and is more active. Is it just individual difference or are they different sexes?

I was reading and all of a sudden I saw a streak under the vacuum. looked underneath and SURPRISE, found a baby alligator lizard! No idea how it got in, but it freaked my mom out! :D it was so cute. :wub: had to let it go, though. :(

I'm still looking for orchid mantis (hymenopus coronatus) females L3 and up (prefer less than presub). I live in southern california (los angeles area). If you live close by local pickup would be ideal. USA only, please. please let me know if you have any for sale. thanks!

I'm still looking for orchid mantis (hymenopus coronatus) females L3 and up (prefer less than presub). I live in southern california (los angeles area). If you live close by local pickup would be ideal. USA only, please. please let me know if you have any for sale. thanks!