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I've had a female Hierodula majuscula reach adulthood somewhere around mid July and now her boyfriend got his wings a week ago. I want to mate them, but I don't want to do it too prematurely. I also, don't know how long the female will be around for. She doesn't seem like she's slowing down yet...

I don't have experience with bud wings, but I had very similar situation with my leaf mantis pair. After a very unsuccessful first attempt, I fed the female real good and gave her some heat (I put her enclosure on top of our radiator just to warm up the enclosure and tried four days later. First...

Thanks for your response @Mystymantis! I did further research and apparently this species is also very aggressive when it comes to mating! Update it's 7:23pm on November 26th and the pair are mating!!! Honestly I think there were a couple factors, one being it was day time, that might've been...

Wow what a thrill😅! Tried to mate my Peruvian leaf mantis today and she was having NONE OF IT!!😓 Good thing I had tongs handy. Male wouldn't let go and I kept saying "Are you trying to die today? Let go!" (As I'm gently trying to get him off) She is a just about a month old and she eats about 8...

@bugboymark I can relate to everything you wrote and I share the same sentiments! Haha!  I know that they know what they're doing, but it's only human nature to worry! Lol!  Thanks for your response!

I'm just curious if anyone knows if a mantis needs to clear it's belly before it molts.  I'm talking mostly sub adult to adult.  Or if there is a correlation to how full a mantis is in relation to when it molts.  I've noticed that I have huge spans between when my mantis won't eat until when...

Yea, sorry for doubting, that first picture really looked like a female??

That actually happened to me this morning.  I was trying to pick my female Chinese mantis up and she was going a little slow for me so I tried to scoop her.  In scooping her, I put my finger under one of her front legs and she clamped down.  I saw her mouth open as to bite me and I quickly got...

Here's a multi part question for you! What is your favorite couple of mantis species and why and then what was your favorite species to own and why? I'm just curious! Do whatever part of the question you feel like!  Since I'm super big on color and mimicry a big favorite is the orchid mantis...

Wow thanks for sharing @bugboymark!  I myself have never seen the killing in person and honestly I really try to fatten up my females before I attempt to breed just so that they aren't interested.  I do know that some species are just more aggressive than others and I feel as if the Hierodula...

So glad to hear that you will be releasing Carolinas and not the Chinese Species!  Because mantids are not particular to what they will hunt, it is very likely that they will prey on the the Monarchs if they have the chance. Even though the Carolina mantis is a smaller species, they won’t...

Ah, thank you! I meant to add it (which I did now), but yes, that’s what I meant. Lol

Here are just a couple of photos of my 1 day old adult female Peruvian leaf mantis! I’m so fascinated by this species! 

I’m curious what everyone's thoughts are. As I'm sure you are aware, when we raise Mantids in the deli cups or plastic containers with the lids or really any diy enclosure, the mantis usually hangs up on the lid.  They do pretty much everything up there including molting. I put a lot of my...

@ohaple I agree with you! I do think that there is a level that the general surroundings do play. How I think about it is if a mantis is in a green patch, it will be green because I think there is a basic function in their brain that tells them it is surrounded by green and they should turn...

I would stay away from the word pregnant because that implies that the nymphs are maturing inside her and they aren't yet.  I would use the word gravid referring to is she holding eggs and yes she is very gravid!  Since she is wild caught, there is a chance that she has mated already and is just...

I generally try to stay away from feeding crickets.  Everytime I try, something bad always happens. :/ I would say feed them bee pollen, sweet potatoes, freeze dried apples, spinach.  Goodluck.  I'm sure if you take the time to feed them properly, they will be fine for your mantids.  Have fun!

There is a lot of discussion here which is awesome!  I guess the only reason I ask is if you think about it.  The reason why we cant find mantids so easily is because they are always so well camouflaged with their surroundings.  Maybe it's just a mystery.  Cuttlefish are apparently colorblind...

I guess this would be a question for the entomologists and biologists out there, but do you think mantids that are generally a certain combination of colors can express colors that aren't typical to them?  Let's take the Chinese mantis.  We know they can be brown and green, a combo of the two...

Do you think mantids know what color they are?  There are times when I think a mantis has NO idea what color they are and then I feel there are times when a mantis is very aware of what color they are.  I will put a brown mantis on a green plant and they will either try to hang low to the soil...