Rhombodera (unknown sp. - HELP!) Mating, Ooth

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

I have 2 adult females successfully mated with my lone male. He stayed mounted for 25 and a half hours!

Still looking for identification.

Anyone know how to distinguish stalii from other sp.? I was told by one of my contacts these may be Rhombodera sp. new to culture. Shield appears broader than stalii but I have no previous experience with Rhombodera so have to go by photos online.

Females are about 3.6", which is larger than both my Sphodromantis sp. and viridis females!

Male is 3.35", not longer but much broader than Sphodromantis sp. and viridis.

Extensive photos of pre-sub female here:

http://mantidforum.n...showtopic=22221

Would like to identify before I start selling nymphs.

Gravid Female

First Coupling

First Ooth

Ooth is as long as an Idolo ooth and literally larger than her abdomen!

yen_saw · Nov 14, 2011

Congrates! That is one impressive ooth! I want to say Rh. valida but there's been too many discussions on this genus so I don't know. All the best and looking forward to see tons of nymphs hatching out

agent A · Nov 14, 2011

what is the tiny ooth on the stick behind her?

meaganelise9 · Nov 14, 2011

I'm no expert (at all), but I'll make a guess anyway. Rhombodera basalis?

http://gallery.sulasula.com/CzechandMisc/Misc/17582262_462bwW#1430490479_r7cgbDD

gripen · Nov 14, 2011

meaganelise9 said:
I'm no expert (at all), but I'll make a guess anyway. Rhombodera basalis?

http://gallery.sulas...0490479_r7cgbDD

i kept basalis and it is defiantly not basalis. i would agree with Yen and say it is valida.

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

yen_saw said:
Congrates! That is one impressive ooth! I want to say Rh. valida but there's been too many discussions on this genus so I don't know. All the best and looking forward to see tons of nymphs hatching out

Thanks, Yen! I consider you THE authority so your input is important to me. I saw you just posted stallii nymphs. Are these too big to be stallii?

agent A said:
what is the tiny ooth on the stick behind her?

Her foot is on an old infertile Texas Unicorn (Phyllovates chlorophaea) ooth. There is another in the background. In the upper right corner you can see the very tip of a fertile Sphodromantis viridis (my favorite Sphodromantis species so far) ooth laid a few days before.

gripen · Nov 14, 2011

I remember basalis had a smaller sheild than yours and the colors were a little tamer.

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

gripen said:
I remember basalis had a smaller sheild than yours and the colors were a little tamer.

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. Sounds like you've got a lot of experience with shields. Between you and Yen I will assume they are valida. I'm really excited to get some nymphs and spread them around.

gripen · Nov 14, 2011

i have to get back into shields so when you spread them think of me

guapoalto049 · Nov 14, 2011

R. basalis ooths don't look like that, they are more globular. R. stalii does not have a brown stripe on the ventral prothorax so that is out too. Those are the only two Rhombodera I'm familiar with!

yen_saw · Nov 14, 2011

Precarious said:
I saw you just posted stallii nymphs. Are these too big to be stallii?

Although size is not a good way to identify species, the average Indonesia (Rh. stallii) stock that I know measure to only about 7-8 cm. I wish i could tell you more.

guapoalto049 said:
R. basalis ooths don't look like that, they are more globular. R. stalii does not have a brown stripe on the ventral prothorax so that is out too. Those are the only two Rhombodera I'm familiar with!

Good observation! I also noticed Rh. basalis has blue hue on wings.

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

guapoalto049 said:
R. basalis ooths don't look like that, they are more globular. R. stalii does not have a brown stripe on the ventral prothorax so that is out too. Those are the only two Rhombodera I'm familiar with!

Great! Now we're getting somewhere. Thanks. I was going to contact you last week when the first ooth dropped but the forum was down.

***

Just so everyone knows, that first ooth is going back to Mylo (banned from the forum). He sent me his female to breed because he couldn't find any males anywhere else, including all of Europe. My female is due to drop any day so keep your fingers crossed.

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

gripen said:
i have to get back into shields so when you spread them think of me

Will do. I'm keeping a list on interested members.

patrickfraser · Nov 14, 2011

Did I make "The List"? :lol:

Precarious · Nov 14, 2011

patrickfraser said:
Did I make "The List"? :lol:

Yup. You're on there from the last post.

patrickfraser · Nov 14, 2011

I didn't have any luck with my shield. Only laid one ooth before my female died and it was done in 2 sittings, as she was disturbed by a roach while laying.

I'm sure it/they are as fertile as possible with multiple pairings. But the clock is ticking away and I am starting to lose hope. They were really pretty...and BIG.

...I already forgot about the first ooth with nothing. so this would be a 2nd ooth.

agent A · Nov 14, 2011

The female on your thumb looks HUGE!!! I may get Rhombodera one of these days (after I acquire some Blepharopsis though

)

Keep us posted!!!

Termite48 · Nov 14, 2011

A truly nice looking Mantis and ooth Henry. Of course the pics are great as usual.

angelofdeathzz · Nov 14, 2011

Very nice! Congratulations! :clap: you did it.

Rhombodera (unknown sp. - HELP!) Mating, Ooth

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