Recent content by Gongylus

Hi, Recently I had the fortune of having my adult female Chinese mantis lay an ootheca. Since then, about two weeks have passed with its temperature at ~75 F.  At this time, when will it likely hatch? How soon will I need to separate the nymphs? Is there anything else I should know?  

I won't force her, but I have offered several types of food. She doesn't look "thin, so to speak, but is somewhat lean.

Last night, I came home to my adult female chinese mantis and discovered she had laid an oothcera on a stick in her habitat.  However, I can't get her to eat now. I haven't fed her in over a week. Is this normal? What can I do for her well being?

Bird predation by mantises. Pretty neat read. https://www.unibas.ch/dam/jcr:8c1649d3-ba69-4907-b84b-e7f84d765a4c/Artikel Wilson Journal of Ornithology.pdf

Grass mantids? Aren't those the parthenogenic ones? If so,  then this "guy" is actually a "gal."

Thank you so much for your assistance. I'm trying to get my hands on some deli cups, and will definitely ventilate more. I also have a small cricket keeper, may this work?

Really? A few days prior I'd actually fed it around 15-20 that basically jumped out.

I have some coconut fiber substrate, will this work?

I do have some pictures of the lid,  although they aren't the best quality. I didn't have an opportunity to really set up something for them until they arrived, so these were just something I made quickly. As for the space between the lid and dirt, it was only around two or so inches.

I realize I said D. melanogaster -- they were D. hydei. Whoops.

It is quite small now that I look at it.  Either way, I still wouldn't worry too much.

It looks like an adult mealworm beetle. I wouldn't be too worried.

Thanks anyways! The dirt is actually just from some garden soil I had laying around.  I was worried about humidity, too.

Those little white chunks are just bits of small bits of minerals, but those green balls are fertilizer. It seems harmless, as I doubt that they were eating them. As for ventilation, yes, I had stabbed/poked several holes throughout the lids of both containers.   Also, are those pics good...

Here's some pictures of the L5: Here's some of its habitat. Sorry about the quality on these: