Blepharopsis mendica Molting

[twolfe]

At 11 pm on Thursday, I was so tired that I was going to go to bed "early" until I noticed one of my male Blepharopsis mendica mantis was shaking. I figured he was going to molt soon since he hadn't eaten for a few days. I ended up staying up until 2 am to watch the entire process. Later I realized this was the first time I watched one molting to an adult from start to finish. Usually I catch them in the middle of a molt. It was really interesting to watch him...especially inflating the wings.

The interesting thing is that this male turned green much faster than my first male that molted. Now I just need my females to molt!

Tammy

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

Beautiful mantis

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Very nice shots! I'm in the same boat, one adult male and waiting on the other 5 some male some female to molt, he's 1 1/2 weeks ahead so far even though I have the females in the hotter locations.

 

[twolfe]

Angleofdeathzz, I also have 6 mendicas, and I have my females directly under a heat lamp, and I've been trying to give them more flies. I think one of them stopped eating. She started to shake a little last night but I went to bed when I realized she wasn't going to molt yet.

 

[giesle]

Really nice series, Tammy. It was definitely worth staying up late for.

 

[Precarious]

Great sequence of photos! I wonder why ours are tan instead of green? I see photos of younger nymphs already showing green.

 

[twolfe]

Precarious, one website mentioned that they are more green if they are in a humid environment. I have no idea if that's true as I couldn't find that anywhere else. I keep my Mendica in a an environment that is more dry than all of my other species. He is green now. Perhaps I'll photograph him tomorrow.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Yeah same here my adult male took 3 days to show green in a dry hot setting, but then it almost set in all at once, like boom I'm Green overnight, I was shocked how fast from tan to full green.

 

[Termite48]

Tammy: Hello! Great pictures from patience, skill. cooperative model (like there was a choice) related to the Idolo species. Now I am green with envy.

Rich

 

[agent A]

i've always wanted to keep those cool mantises, very neat!!!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Has the girl molted yet?

 

[twolfe]

Rebecca (hibiscusmile), I have three females, and none of them has molted to an adult yet. One of my females and the last of my males stopped eating. Their budwings are a little swollen. I sure hope that they molt soon!

 

[twolfe]

My second adult male has turned a really pretty green.

My third male molted to an adult Thursday morning. And my first female molted to an adult this morning around 2 am. I've been going to bed after 2:30 am the past three days. Here she is during the molt.

 

[twolfe]

Not tonight dear, I have a splitting headache.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

@ Not tonight dear, I have a splitting headache.

Too funny, thats what I think it looks like when there about to molt "I got a headache" but I never heard anyone else mention it, so not only do we have alot of the same mantis but we think a little alike.

 

[Precarious]

Wow! Love the green. Hope mine molt before my vacation.

I'm in doubt of the whole humidity/green connection. Mine are kept in a humid environment and they are tan just like yours. May be more of a regional thing - like if they come from a more humid area.

 

[twolfe]

My female that molted yesterday morning is already a pretty shade of green. But my male that molted on Thursday morning is still a drab tan. Interesting that the female got her green color so fast.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Not tonight dear, I have a splitting headache.

Like this!