Extrememantid
Well-known member
Hahahaha yea Hierodula are known to take down some big feeders. If they are taking out big stuff I would like to say majascula. But those are native to Australian rainforest's lol
Another exciting find in the wild (baby edition)!
- Thread starter TheBeesKnees
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TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
Yeah, majescula are the only Hierodula I know who sport such purple colors... But we don't get 'em here!
My purplest one, Pedt, ate a katydid twice his size.
I plunked it in there with him, and when I saw how much I underestimated the katydid's size, I was ready to remove it from the enclosure but--before I could even begin to do so, he already football tackled it and went to town...
looks awfully pleased with himself...
Hopefully such a large meal will send him into his fourth instar, soon!!
My purplest one, Pedt, ate a katydid twice his size.
I plunked it in there with him, and when I saw how much I underestimated the katydid's size, I was ready to remove it from the enclosure but--before I could even begin to do so, he already football tackled it and went to town...
looks awfully pleased with himself...
Hopefully such a large meal will send him into his fourth instar, soon!!
TreetopMantid
Member
What is the best area (around the world) to find most mantids? I only find mantis religiosa and tenodera.
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
Southeast asia is pretty amazing; there's a huuuge variety here (there are at least 15 different genera in Thailand alone, as far as I know--and even more species).
I'm sure places in Africa are more of the same, as well.
I'm sure places in Africa are more of the same, as well.
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
L4 molt on my colorful pink guy!
Still quite pink... His brothers are starting to get more green, But this little dude has decided the fuscia is in!
Still quite pink... His brothers are starting to get more green, But this little dude has decided the fuscia is in!
SillyMantis
Member
I had a hierodula majuscula that exacted the same patterns, but like someone before me mentioned...they are native to Australia.
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
here's another one from the same batch who molted to L5, and the first thing I thought when I saw him was "my you're looking very majustic today..."
Look at that pink chest!
These guys are also shaping up to be pretty small. Even for males, they're turning out to be way tinier than my other Heirodula (parviceps, most likely) girls...
So who do I alert if majuscula have invaded thailand? :tt2:
Look at that pink chest!
These guys are also shaping up to be pretty small. Even for males, they're turning out to be way tinier than my other Heirodula (parviceps, most likely) girls...
So who do I alert if majuscula have invaded thailand? :tt2:
mantiseater
Well-known member
I think I know what it is I have one in my pinned collection. ill look up the name later.
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
I just wanted to post an update about these babies!
Three of them wound up being some manner of Heirodula sp: two females, one male. I kept the male, and released the other two girls, since they all appear to be the very same species as my other girls (despite looking very different as L1/L2 nymphs o__o)
One of them, however, turned out to be a completely different genus!
Behold, Noi the Rhombodera:
As you can see, she's a subadult now. She's also as big as my largest (adult) Hierodula. She's really trigger happy with threat displaying--but she's all bark, no bite.
Her shield, while definitely very different from my Heirodula girls (broader at the top, with a more gradual tapering towards the base), is pretty humble as far as a "shield mantis'" shield goes.... There's apparently a species called R. longa which fits the bill for this girl, to a T. So that's been my casual ID for her.
She's really cool! Her pink chest is very charming. I wished I had a male for her, as well! (why are the boys so difficult to come by, in the wild!?)
Three of them wound up being some manner of Heirodula sp: two females, one male. I kept the male, and released the other two girls, since they all appear to be the very same species as my other girls (despite looking very different as L1/L2 nymphs o__o)
One of them, however, turned out to be a completely different genus!
Behold, Noi the Rhombodera:
As you can see, she's a subadult now. She's also as big as my largest (adult) Hierodula. She's really trigger happy with threat displaying--but she's all bark, no bite.
Her shield, while definitely very different from my Heirodula girls (broader at the top, with a more gradual tapering towards the base), is pretty humble as far as a "shield mantis'" shield goes.... There's apparently a species called R. longa which fits the bill for this girl, to a T. So that's been my casual ID for her.
She's really cool! Her pink chest is very charming. I wished I had a male for her, as well! (why are the boys so difficult to come by, in the wild!?)
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patrickfraser
Well-known member
When she reaches adult, put her outside in an enclosure and her calling may bring in an elusive male or 2. Good luck.
mantiseater
Well-known member
wow
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
I've got me an adult Rhombo now! She molted beautifully and she's the biggest mantis I've ever had!
She's about five inches, and weighs more than an insect has any right to weigh!
She's grown into a really sweet personality, too! Which is amazing considering she was such a punchy jerk during pre-sub...
I'm really happy with her! She such a wonderful little goliath!
She's about five inches, and weighs more than an insect has any right to weigh!
She's grown into a really sweet personality, too! Which is amazing considering she was such a punchy jerk during pre-sub...
I'm really happy with her! She such a wonderful little goliath!
Glad to see she calmed down too, awesome.
Sticky
Well-known member
Gorgeous young lady! Let us know how setting her outside in a cage goes. It would be great if you could send an ooth to the US.
mantiseater
Well-known member
put her outside in a mesh enclosure to attract a male
