Crickets ok as staple food for mantids?

[mantisfan101]

Would crickets work as a staple food source for mantids? I've heard mixed reports about having mantids vomit or even die after being fed excusively crickets, while others apparently benefited from them and even seemed to lay bigger ooths. Of course if I were to try this I would supplement with the occasional mealworm/fly but would this work? I have a ac chinese mantis female and I've fed her nothing but crickets and an occasional katydid from my porch light and she laid quite an impressive ooth(at least compared to all others I've gotten before). Leave any ideas, comments, thoughts, etc. I'm really curious to hear what you all have to say.

 

[MantisGirl13]

It depends on where you get your crix and how they are kept. If they are kept in a maintained, sterile environment they should be fine. If there are dead crickets in the cage, droppings everywhere, or mold, I wouldn't suggest it. Either way, it's a risk.

- MantisGirl13