An update on the mantids!

macawlover2 · Mar 22, 2011

Since I haven't had time to be on lately, I thought you guys should get an update on this newby's mantids

They're doing great! Call me crazy but I can see personalities starting to show on them all. I have one named Piggy beecause he eats ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I put in his enclosure, which is really handy because I need a use for the seed moths that appear from my bird food.

Just a few questions, as usual. Is it normal for them to grow at different rates? My biggest one is a good 2" and the smallest is about 1"-1.5".

Also, I can see tiny wings on most of them but I've read that only adults will have wings. Do the wings just become fully grown in adults, and are smaller in nymphs?

One more question! I've noticed that their eyes turn red at night. Is this normal? It's pretty sweet. The following pictures are of my biggest mantid at around 11pm last night:

hibiscusmile · Mar 22, 2011

yes for diff sizes, bud wings means a couple more molts till adult and yes for eyeballs,,,,, I think

:tt2:

lancaster1313 · Mar 24, 2011

That is a cute mantis.

dgerndt · Mar 25, 2011

Yes, mantids grow at different rates. Also, females are usually larger than males.

Little wing buds means they are very close to adulthood! Once they start swelling (you'll know what I mean when you see it) they're getting close to a molt.

Yes, it's normal. Mantis eyes will get darker with less light. It's very cool that yours get dark red eyes. Gambian Spotted-Eye Flower mantids also have red eyes at night.