Cold adapted mantis species

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happy1892

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Hi! There are so few mantises that are cold adapted... lets list some shall we? :D They overwinter as oothecae, so the eggs in the oothecae are the things overwintering, cool summers might also matter to mantises.

Brunneria borealis

Iris polystictica (super cold hardy?)

Iris oratoria

Mantis religiosa religiosa (also super cold tolerant?)

Mantis religiosa polonica (super cold hardy?)

Mantis religiosa beybienkoi (super cold hardy?)

Litaneutria minor

Empusa pennata

Schizocephala bicornis (overwinters as nymphs?)

Stagmomantis californica

Stagmomantis carolina

Tenodera sinensis

Tenodera angustipennis

Hierodula transcaucasica

Hierodula patellifera

Statilia maculata

Orthodera novaezealandiae

Coptopteryx

Any more mantises to list?

 
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A mantis may live for a few days in cold weather if that is what you are wondering, but for much longer they really do not last, when it gets down to 40F the food Is scarce and they end up dying. I can tell you an awful story, but don't want to leave that in your minds.

 
tenodera angustipenis, orthodera novaezealandiae, brunneria borealis, empusa pennata, various hierodula species, coptopteryx, schizocephala bicornis (can apparently go through a one to two month dispuase around l4.)

 
How about Gonatista grisea, Thesprotia graminis,
I can first-hand confirm that these can and will survive periods of "extreme" cold. Within the past few weeks it has gotten below freezing here in Gainesville, FL and on multiple occasions I have found nymphs of both of these species. 

 
I can first-hand confirm that these can and will survive periods of "extreme" cold. Within the past few weeks it has gotten below freezing here in Gainesville, FL and on multiple occasions I have found nymphs of both of these species. 
The oothecae are laid underneath bark right?  Do the temperatures stay more moderate there than the outside air?  Still they are cold tolerant.

 
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 Im not sure why I cant post in a regular text box, but anyway... Yes, some g grisea lay their ooths under bark....but it is merely wedged between bark..so no real insulation/protection from the cold.  Yes. both species are cold tolerant. 
 
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How about Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii?  This ones found in Eastern Cape, South Africa:

https://www.ispotnature.org/node/774289?nav=search

Is it kind of cold down there?

Edit:

It seems like it doesn't really get very cold during winter down at the coast?  But there are places where it's colder in South Africa, so will have to find them from around there to know if they are cold adapted. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molteno,_Eastern_Cape

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Elizabeth

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_climate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-arid_climate#Cold_semi-arid_climates

 
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Are there any Creobroter? Found at higher altitudes or parts with cooler winters?
There is Creobroter apicalis that is found in Yunnan, China.  It gets mild cool winters:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan#Climate

And Creobroter nebulosa of Southeast China

http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/Common/specimen/ShowSpecimen.aspx?Router=NewPage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanping

How about Hymenopus coronatoides of Southern China?  

http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1182739

 
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I know Empusa pennata overwinters at l5 naturally, as ooths are layed in the summertime. But we must also remember what can truly constitute as cold tolerant. They must be able to withstand below freezing temperatures for a week or more as a mantid, and at least a solid month as an ooth :p  cooler temperatures can be tolerated quite easily for some time even with tropicals. pop one that has mismolted into the freezer for a few hours, and pull it out to find it still breathing.

 
I know Empusa pennata overwinters at l5 naturally, as ooths are layed in the summertime. But we must also remember what can truly constitute as cold tolerant. They must be able to withstand below freezing temperatures for a week or more as a mantid, and at least a solid month as an ooth :p  cooler temperatures can be tolerated quite easily for some time even with tropicals. pop one that has mismolted into the freezer for a few hours, and pull it out to find it still breathing.
Are there official standards for cold tolerant species? :p

 
Hi! There are so few mantises that are cold adapted... lets list some shall we? :D They overwinter as oothecae, so the eggs in the oothecae are the things overwintering, cool summers might also matter to mantises.

Brunneria borealis

Iris polystictica (super cold hardy?)

Iris oratoria

Mantis religiosa religiosa (also super cold tolerant?)

Mantis religiosa polonica (super cold hardy?)

Mantis religiosa beybienkoi (super cold hardy?)

Litaneutria minor

Empusa pennata

Schizocephala bicornis (overwinters as nymphs?)

Stagmomantis californica

Stagmomantis carolina

Tenodera sinensis

Tenodera angustipennis

Hierodula transcaucasica

Hierodula patellifera

Statilia maculata

Orthodera novaezealandiae

Coptopteryx

Any more mantises to list?
So are these mantids able to survive extreme cold conditions, and do not require much heat when kept as pets? I.E no heat mat until certain VERY LOW temps? And does this mean they can survive from very low, to relatively high temps too? Or are these survivability factors only for the various species in the wild? I'd love to know which species that are shop bought, don't need to be religiously kept at higher temps for fear of them randomly dying :D
Which I am always worried about =/ as most shops say to keep most species at around mid 20s centigrade.
One would assume the ones raised in shops and captivity, require hotter conditions more often though, because they have been bred in warmer, more controlled conditions? Therefore the wild ones are hardier and used to colder temps? And shop bought ones may die if the temp drops substantially? like a heat mat failure during the winter for example.
Although some mantis sent via transport, do survive a couple of days in the box without heat packs, it seems.
 
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I've kept many Heterochaeta orientalis at 20° C (68° F) during the winter. I've never had a problem with feeding or health issues. Great longlived, cold tolerant species for people who don't want to fuss with heating systems.
 

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