Brunneria borealis L1 Food

[The Mantis Menagerie]

I have 5 overwintering ootheca of B. borealis, and I was just told that the newly-hatched nymphs are too small to eat D. melanogaster flies. Assuming this is true, what can I feed them and how? This is a problem I had not even considered because they are such large mantids when adults. 

 

[hysteresis]

I've heard the same regarding Mantis religiosa. I have an ooth that might be fertile from last fall. So as it's time to pull it out of diapause, i'll follow this topic attentively. 

 

[mantisfan101]

I would go with springtails and if you plan on raising the mantis religiosa with fruit flies then all I can say is good luck. I tried that once and I ended up with 4 of them; the rest died off from cannibalism or starvation. 

 

[hysteresis]

Springtails at the reptile store I frequently for feeders and such. 

 

[Jaywo]

My brunner nymphs like aphids and its aphid season where I am. They are everywhere. Check rose and bramble bush leaves. They like fresh new stalks, leaves and stems.