Can you feed Chinese mantis nymphs small ants?

[Davisnguyen998]

I'm wondering if the ants are dangerous or if the mantises can handle them.

 

[mantid_mike]

I'm pretty sure a few ants would gang up and take down a mantis.

 

[aychen222]

That, the formic acid, and their strong mandibles make them a poor feeder for most mantids

 

[D_Hemptress]

^^ exactly what he said!

 

[aychen222]

Thanks D, it's because great minds think. like.

 

[Paradoxica]

When I got my first mantids I tried to feed it a black ant, it just killed the ant and showed no interest in eating it. I think it knew better than to eat something with such formidable chemical defenses. Although I think there are a few desert species that do eat ants.

 

[aychen222]

And Gonatista grisea seem to have developed accommodating characteristics to eat them as well.

 

[Davisnguyen998]

Oh alright thanks I never knew about the chemical thing about ants.. but yeah thanks

 

[Rattoyagi]

Ants in general (not saying all) are bad feeders for any critter. I tried that with a baby toad before and they killed it. I was sad.