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I'm curious. How are you familiar with their methods as I've often wondered about this? Are you sure they are from the same bloodline? In the horticulture/agriculture trade, Chinese mantids are often bought from such farms. With the amount of ooths these farms must produce for retail sale...

An excellent/valid point Jesse! This has been well documented with all sorts of plant and animal species once thought to be impossible to cultivate and/or breed in zoos, aquariums, etc. Further research often resulted in meeting these needs and allowing captive cultivation/breeding. Thanks...

All this talk about inbreeding having no effect on mantids is a bit irresponsible if you ask me. Most mantid species have a wide dispersal upon hatching, and in many species, adult males have been known to fly great distances. The purpose of this dispersal is can't simply to ensure...

If I were Joe, I'd tell you that you have a male there. :wink:

I'm sure there are at least a few others in here who do. I always create a little "habitat" for my various creatures. When I get some digital pics, or scan some, I'll try to post them. Coco-fiber bricks usually make up the substrate for my terrestrial enclosures along with various mosses and...

I never said plants alone take care of the humidity. All I'm saying is that the more plants that are in the enclosure, the more stable the humidity will be. Of course misting or other humidifying methods are still needed! Sorry for the confusion! :wink:

Very true. But if a large tank were furnished with many live plants (other than succulents), then regulating humidity shouldn't be a problem.

A wild mantids "territory" is dependant on two main things: availability of food, and the amount of preferred vegitation. They don't really establish a specific territory though. They pretty much go where the food goes, while avoiding potential hazards. For the first few instars they do a lot...

On the left: Neanthe bella palm (chamaedorea elegans) On the right: Elephant foot palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Good job Rick!!! :D I'm very glad to hear that you let it go! And don't think twice about it either!!! 8) When I was young, I used to capture and preserve inverts. But I quickly decided that it's ultimately better for the bugs, AND ME, to photograph them. Better for the bugs because...

Wow! That's a suprize! I remember looking at the cocoon in the pic you posted, and it was very light in color and more rounded. Cecropias usually have a longer, more of a golden brown cocoon. Interesting. That's the largest North American moth you got there! Cool isn't it!?! :D

When you refer to a problem with osmoregulation, do you think that these deaths can be linked to an inability to properly regulate water in the body as a result of an over-filled gut? Or do you feel that an over-filled gut is somehow preventing proper excretion of excess water and metobolic wastes?

I have noticed that on occasion a mantid can over eat when the final prey item is rather large. What I mean is that somtimes a mantids eyes may be bigger than its stomach. If a mantis is almost full, it may capture something that is rather large. They don't always drop what's left over if...

For the eggs within an ooth to be killed by insecticides, they would have to be soaked or completely saturated by them. When pesticides are applied correctly, it's so light of a coating that it's not of much concern for mantid ooths.(not that I use, or condone use of pesticides for any reason)...

I think it depends a lot on what zone you are in, and what the climate is. Around here in the Chicago area, saturnid moths don't begin to emerge until June. They need a month or so of consistantly warm temps before hatching. Rain might have something to do w/it too. Heck, they might even be...

None of the ones you mentioned are toxic. A lot depends on the larval food plant i guess. But what's toxic to many animals doesn't seem to have the same effect on inverts. I often place my mantids on flowering plants outdoors to let them catch their own wild game. I've seen one happily...

I agree that it's a polyphemus moth. You can tell that it's a male by the x-tra feathery antenna. It's a shame that these large saturnidae moths are becoming more and more rare. Take a pic and let him go. You'll have lots of time to get some good pics since it takes them a while to get...

one more thing!!! Live plants do a great job of keeping and regulating humidity. You'll have far fewer molting problems if your mantids live with live plants. That's it! I'm done!

A little more help for ya..... Here are some plants that consistantly work well for me: bromeliads, tillandsias, ferns, orchids, neanthe bella palms, alocasias, anthuriums, aphelandras, rex begonias, crotons, episcias, ficus benj., hypoestes, syngoniums, Low growing stuff: peperomias...

There are hundreds of plants to choose from that work great for mantid enclosures; especially since there is no concern over mantids ingesting them. Plants that I would avoid are ones with spines, prickles, or thorns. You never know when one might slip and get impaled. Bromeliads work great...