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superfreak, Why not get a native Australian species like Hierodula majuscula (Giant Rainforest mantis). They are almost as big as Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian mantis) and have much more interesting coloration. I would love to get an ootheca of this species! You should be able to buy them...

My only concern regarding fertility is that you had the mantid in captivity three weeks before the ootheca was laid. I would expect the ootheca to be laid within 10 days of mating. Of course, it could be the second ootheca for this mantid. But that usually takes about 10 days, assuming your...

Matthew Whittle, For tropical species, that is one of the "potential benefits" I alluded to in my post above. But with Tenodera sinensis (Chinese mantis) at least, I don't see how that would work out. According to page 45 of The Praying Mantids, oothecae of the species all hatch within two...

Cosmic, Where were these Mantis religiosa collected? Scott

I read the abstract of the "Optimal diapause strategies of a grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes" article mentioned by PhilinYuma and gleaned a little more information. The "late stage of development" mentioned refers to different stages of embryonic development, not egg versus nymph as I...

PhilinYuma, It sounds like the grasshopper species discussed supports diapause at a different stage of development than mantid species that inhabit temperate zones. Egg diapause and nymphal diapause can occur for different reasons. Also, there is only one mantid species that I am aware of in...

yob: n. Chiefly British Slang A rowdy, aggressive, or violent young man. Scott

As I said before, I tend to believe what Dr. Yager says is accurate. Here is his text again: "Because mantises are primarily tropical in distribution, the issue of diapause doesn't come up often. Even M. religiosa, which needs diapause over some of its range, does not in others (southern...

5ummer5, It's called an "ootheca" and many shorten that to "ooth". An ootheca is the egg case of a mantid. Your Giant Asian will lay a rather large ootheca if she has been well fed. Unless she has been mated, the ootheca will be sterile. This is completely natural and nothing to worry about...

"Esperanza" means "hope". Scott

Tier, How can Mantis religiosa religiosa require a diapause in Europe and North America but not require one in Asia and Africa? It's not like the diapause difference is something minor. Wouldn't that not so small difference indicate a different subspecies? Scott

This what I have been arguing for since the 8th post in this thread!!! If a Mantis religiosa didn't need a diapause, it must be a subspecies. Scott

tier, This is fantastic information. It confirms my idea that the European Mantis religiosa must be a different subspecies than the M. religiosa found in tropical climatic zones. I didn't have any idea that there were so many subspecies. Are you saying that it is illegal to keep or breed the...

kamakiri, I said that if Dr. Yager says there are Mantis religiosa in parts of the world that don't need a diapause, I would tend to believe him. And I still do! We seem to have information from independent sources to back that up. I quoted a page in The Praying Mantids, in a chapter written...

The only thing that I have read that I have taken as "truth" is that Mantis religiosa is present in Taiwan and Ghana. What, specifically, are you referring to? Scott

Orin, Is Mantis religiosa an introduced species in Taiwan? What about M. religiosa i Africa? Do you think they are introduced there as well? There are no typical seasons in Ghana. How do you think M. religiosa manages there if they were introduced? Scott

Yes, "Esperanza" is another name used for a mantid. Scott

LittleBro, I think Rick's point was that these are wild animals and behave as such. Their instinct is to escape. So the behavior should be considered normal and you should not take it personally. Scott

eaglewarrior, The Mantis religiosa population in the cooler parts of Europe do require a diapause that is broken by winter. Based on information presented here, the M. religiosa in Taiwan and Africa do not need a diapause. In a calendar year, do the M. religiosa in Taiwan have one generation...

Morpheus uk, Hit that Caps Lock key! ;) What is it about Deroplatys lobata that you like so much? What makes them special to you? Scott