cilnia humeralis; please define "agressive"?

[Precarious]

You think she would be able to moly OK if I took her out of there, and just let her sit on the plant?

I had an L5 Idolo molt on a plant on my desk and everything went fine. So long as ambient humidity isn't really low and she gets a chance to drink everyday it should be cool. I always make sure mine get to drink every day as they approach a molt. They need the fluids to lubricate the process. That's why low humidity can lead to a bad molt.

 

[LLCoolJew]

I had an L5 Idolo molt on a plant on my desk and everything went fine. So long as ambient humidity isn't really low and she gets a chance to drink everyday it should be cool. I always make sure mine get to drink every day as they approach a molt. They need the fluids to lubricate the process. That's why low humidity can lead to a bad molt.

Thank you, Precarious! I regard your opinion highly, so I feel more at ease ditching the cube. If an Idolo can do it, surely a cilnia can pull it off, too! I'm misting her and the plant with distilled water several times a day. You mentioned that you try to get yours to drink everyday when approaching a molt. If you have any tips on how to coax her into drinking (so that I can confirm that she's done so!), I'd be interested to know.

PS. Have just decided to get an Idolo, also, which is a rather ambitious undertaking for me. I'll be following your posts more closely than ever!!

 

[Precarious]

If you have any tips on how to coax her into drinking (so that I can confirm that she's done so!), I'd be interested to know.

I'd lightly mist her, which means misting just above her so it comes down on her. If she is thirsty she will collect the dew to drink. Same method they use for grooming. She'll rub the bristles on her raptors over her body then bring the water to her mouth. If not it evaporates. If I notice them eagerly collecting water I'll give them more.

One thing to be aware of is that most plants are treated with insecticide so if it's a new plant you don't want her to drink from the leaves. I almost lost an adult male Ghost due to poisoning from a plant. He drank a lot off the leaves after arriving through the mail and went into a coma for almost 2 days. Luckily he fully recovered. I'd just bought the plant earlier that day. Now I always rinse any new plants and give them a month or two to detox.

She will get just as much humidity outside of the net cage since they don't hold humidity at all unless you cover sides with plastic. Being on the plant she will benefit from the moisture coming from the plant's soil. Adding enough plants to a room can bring up the relative humidity substantially. If you want to boost humidity even more put the pot in a wide shallow dish filled with damp sphagnum moss.

Have just decided to get an Idolo, also, which is a rather ambitious undertaking for me. I'll be following your posts more closely than ever!!

I think you'll do fine with an Idolo. I got mine after only 3 months experience (I've been into mantids about a year and 3 months now). Just follow the rules. Housing is important. You've got a good resource in the users here. And you'll need to pupate a lot of maggots.