Daipause ooth to release nymphs in spring?

[cloud jaguar]

Our mantis laid an ooth!

STAGMOMANTIS CALIFORNICA was wildcaught about 2.5 weeks ago. Hopefully she mated and ooth is fertile. If it hatches, we plan to keep a couple of nymphs and release most of them into the garden. We would really like to learn how to breed these Californicas since they are super cool looking and come in a vibrant pink tan like color.

Since i live in california and the seasons are a bit messed up, winter is like spring in most places. I am guessing that in nature the ooth would somehow manage not to hatch until spring, despite the temperate temps here.

Since the nymphs would normally be born in the spring, and we plan to release most of them to the garden,

1) Should we place them in the refrigerator until Spring?

2) If so, what should ooth be kept in? (i am thinking sealed sandwitch bag)

Or otherwise, if we just try to hatch the ooth out now and release the older nymphs during spring - their life cycle will be all messed up and none will survive anyways?

 

[idolomantis]

With european ooths you have to place them outside (in the cup) to let them hatch.

But i have no clue if this is also the case with stagmatomantis...

 

[Rick]

If you want them to hatch in your garden in spring just put the ooth in the garden now. B) Then come spring time it will hatch into your garden. Don't put it in the fridge as that technique wouldn't make any sense in this case. If you hatch it indoors this winter they will likely be adults before spring.

 

[Peter Clausen]

If, by sandwich bag, you mean "plastic", don't. If, by sandwich bag, you mean paper, do!

The main cause of failed oothecae is lack of humidity/drying out. Plastic does not breathe.

Also, the fridge method doesn't always work for this same reason. Since you have collected a wild ootheca prior to winter and spring, it will need the next several months of exposure to normal humidity and temperatures. Oothecae are designed to survive in nature, not fridges.

Of course, a little bit of outdoor sheltering is a good thing as some oothecae are parasitized or otherwise sacrificed to other natural causes.

 

[cloud jaguar]

We thought about it and decided to try to hatch out the S. Californica ooth (if it is fertile) so we will start to incubate it now. I guess it would be lame to release any young mantids which may hatch loose next spring since they will be older and may mate and lay ooths in the garden which will hatch just before winter! instead of after winter, lol.

 

[Rick]

We thought about it and decided to try to hatch out the S. Californica ooth (if it is fertile) so we will start to incubate it now. I guess it would be lame to release any young mantids which may hatch loose next spring since they will be older and may mate and lay ooths in the garden which will hatch just before winter! instead of after winter, lol.

You have the right idea. Regardless of how warm your winters are (they are here too) they would still hatch at the right time usually. Get yourself some fruit fly cultures going before too long to ensure you have a good supply before they hatch.

 

[kamakiri]

I suggest putting it outside in a paper bag...preferably one with a plastic window so you can check on the ooth(s) and hatching status.

I doubt there's any need to 'incubate' this local species. Even if you leave it alone indoors, I doubt it would hatch before next spring.

 

[Rick]

I suggest putting it outside in a paper bag...preferably one with a plastic window so you can check on the ooth(s) and hatching status.I doubt there's any need to 'incubate' this local species. Even if you leave it alone indoors, I doubt it would hatch before next spring.

You doubt it would hatch before next SPRING? You do realize most species hatch within three months. Pretty sure it is longer than that till spring. If you put it outside just put it outside in a bush or something. A paper bag is not going to weather very well.

 

[kamakiri]

You doubt it would hatch before next SPRING? You do realize most species hatch within three months. Pretty sure it is longer than that till spring. If you put it outside just put it outside in a bush or something. A paper bag is not going to weather very well.

I dunno. It's already October and it should reach 30-something overnight for at least a couple weeks in there if left outside. So maybe late winter at the very earliest IMO. Late Feb or early March...Still before spring, but not by much.

For the paper bag...even if it rains a day or two, the bag will not disintegrate here. Haven't you heard..."It never rains in southern California" ?

 

[Rick]

I dunno. It's already October and it should reach 30-something overnight for at least a couple weeks in there if left outside. So maybe late winter at the very earliest IMO. Late Feb or early March...Still before spring, but not by much.For the paper bag...even if it rains a day or two, the bag will not disintegrate here. Haven't you heard..."It never rains in southern California" ?

I am talking about if the ooth was left inside as you said. It should hatch way before spring with most of the mantids pretty good sized by then.

 

[kamakiri]

I am talking about if the ooth was left inside as you said. It should hatch way before spring with most of the mantids pretty good sized by then.

I see my mistake on the timing for the kept indoors scenario. Even if you were to release some in January, I wouldn't worry about them maturing too fast. Survival rates might suffer, due to the lack of food mid winter here...but that's what will also keep the ones that survive from developing too fast. I probably should have said, "Even if you leave it indoors, it shouldn't be a problem for the ones you release."

Anyway, my main point was to put the ooth outside.