Collecting Wild Mantis

[pohchunyee]

Hi all,

I will be going to a camping trip this weekend. I was wondering if anyone has any experience in collecting wild mantis? Back in Malaysia, I used to camp in the jungle, pitch black at night. I collect insect by hanging a white cloth betwen branches and place a white light in front of it. This attract tons of insect including mantis and beetles.I was wondering if this works best here in New York State? Or a butterfly net and collecting in the morning works the magic??

 

[Rick]

That will work. I prefer to just go into a likely mantis area and find them with my own eyes. I have been doing this since I was a young child and I have a real ability to spot them. I prefer to look in weedy areas that holds alot of feeder insects because that is where you will find them.

 

[Morpheus uk]

Likewise, just spotted them up spain and cuped them in my hand, couldnt believe how many ooths there was under rocks

 

[Hypoponera]

You might have better luck using a black light rather then a white light. I catch males in early fall with a white sheet and black light. They don't seem to attracted to white lights. If your trip is too early, you probably won't catch much. Later in the season and the mantids will be winged and more likely to fly to the sheet.

 

[idolomantis]

you also need ALOT of luck cuz you narroly c them. i found my ameles cuz she jumped on my toe. my m religiosa where in a field of tall grass under a tree after some heavy rain.

 

[galapoheros]

Gas prices are high but I see many on black-top country roads at night in August and Sept around here in central tx. You can drive about 25 mph, if it's safe to, and pick up a few that way if they are in the area.