Appropriate ooth temperature

[preying mantis]

Hi all,

I am so glad to have found this forum where people as obsessed with mantids as I am congregate.

I captured my mantis off of my car about two months ago and have been caring for her. Last Sunday I came home to find her laying an ooth. I have been browsing the Internet and have seen several different recommendations for what temperature to keep it at. A lot of places say to put it in the refrigerator, but the sticky guide on this forum briefly mentions that room temperature is fine, though it doesn't touch on the subject much after that.

I have been keeping it at room temperature. Is that okay?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[lancaster1313]

Whether you refrigerate or not depends on the species of mantis and what you will do with the nymphs.

If it is a Mantis religiosa ootheca it may need a cold period to have a good hatch.

If it is another species, it is OK to incubate in room temperature if you mean to raise or rehome all of the surviving nymphs.

If you want to release some nymphs, then it might be best to incubate the ootheca in a non heated garage or outdoors. That way it will hatch when it is warm enough for the nymphs to survive outdoors.

 

[Rick]

What species? In general you should keep the ooth in the same conditions as the adult mantis. Only some species need a cold period. Only other reason to put it in cold is to delay hatching (assuming it is a species that does so).

 

[mantid_mike]

Did you mate her with a male? If it took two months for her to lay an ooth, I'd think it's questionable that it'll even hatch..

 

[brancsikia339]

Really depends on species

 

[preying mantis]

Thank you for your replies.

I believe it is indeed a Mantis Religiosa. I am still learning about the different species so I am only going by pictures on the Internet. If it helps distinguish the species, I live in central Alabama.

But no, I did not mate her with a male. It is to my understanding that they can store the male reproductive material and fertilize their eggs when conditions are suitable.

 

[lancaster1313]

If you post a photo, someone here will be able to identify what species she is.

 

[preying mantis]

 

[hierodula]

Chinese mantis dude

 

[preying mantis]

Just happened to look in on her cage as I walked past and I was very surprised to see she was laying another ooth!

Is this normal? Laying two ooths in just a little over a week?

 

[ismart]

Just happened to look in on her cage as I walked past and I was very surprised to see she was laying another ooth!

Is this normal? Laying two ooths in just a little over a week?

If she is fed well. Then i would say yes. Do the ooths look normal? If you don't know what a normal chinese ooth looks like? There should be plenty of pics on this forum, or even google it. There should be plenty of comparison pics with coins.

 

[preying mantis]

If she is fed well. Then i would say yes. Do the ooths look normal? If you don't know what a normal chinese ooth looks like? There should be plenty of pics on this forum, or even google it. There should be plenty of comparison pics with coins.

They both look normal in terms of texture and color. One is quite a bit larger than the other, however.

But yes, I keep her very well fed.