Empusa pennata Mating Attempt #1

[aNisip]

I have never snipped the wings of mantids, but I wouldn't cut the whole wing off...just the tip/part in the way...from the pictures...it looks like the bottom 1/3 of her wing curls under and sorta blocks her abdomen...maybe just cut that part off? And she might lose some but not a whole lot...if u try mating again aand he still has problems, then see if u can get in there and move her wings and let him connect...or you can snip the wings in the way when she's alone and cool her down so she looses the least amount of hemolymph...

 

[glock34girl]

Ah! Cool beans! Thanks!

 

[Paradoxica]

You don't necessarily have to remove the ooth. You could build an incubator around it. I made this one out of a styrofoam cup...

 

[aNisip]

You don't necessarily have to remove the ooth. You could build an incubator around it. I made this one out of a styrofoam cup...

This was some ingenious thinking back when I first saw it in your Crypic thread....BarretaKhar, you could do this for the ooths

But bc of the placement of some of the ooths it might be difficult to put a cup around it...

 

[glock34girl]

Well we are at five ooths and three breeding attempts and today was bad news. I keep the breeder enclosures in the front room since I spend most of my time there and can watch them. I heard a ruckus from the enclosure, went to see what going on and found my male seemingly stuck between the screen and spline. He'd somehow wedged one side of himself there and was struggling to free himself. Before I could help him he sort of kicked out and ripped both right legs off just below the knee. He totally went mafia on himself. He gets around okay but is a bit clumsy and adjusting to his new strut... If you want to call it that. I have been leaving them together since Tuesday night and the female is fine with him. I separated them today as the female was restless and wanted to lay an ooth and apparently this guy was all don't leave me or I'll rip my legs off.

So five ooths, lots of mounts but still never actually witnessing a connection or results such as an "open female" or sperm sac. ( I always forget the proper term).

Henry, Danny, tony: any success?

 

[glock34girl]

Well, it seems my male is in a bad way. The two injured legs had made him terribly clumsy such that he wasn't hanging well. He would seem to get tired and just fall. He seems to have broken a raptorial on the same side so he essentially only has his left side. He is of course not interested in breeding at all and I don't blame him. I placed him in a smaller enclosure with some softer substrate and he seems to just go nuts and is restless. Hate to say it but this may be the end of the road for this guy. :-( its a very very delicate species indeed. Despite as many precautions as possible he seemed to find a way to injure himself and then just get worse. Will see how he's doing tomorrow. Any ideas? I think his breeding is over since he won't be able to hold onto her. But, if he can be made comfortable I'm up for ideas. Not a fan of the freezer but not a fan of seeing something suffer, either.

 

[ScienceGirl]

She looks like she's wearing a tutu!

 

[aNisip]

If you have the patience and willingness...try pairing them up and hold her on her back...wait till he connects and then gently/loosely wrap a bread tie around him to her and then leave them be...but if he is on his way out in the next few days...you could decapitate him and his abdomen might begin "searching" for a female...I have done this with a male tenodera and male popa spurca....its up to you...

All the best and hope he recovers,

Andrew

 

[glock34girl]

Well, the poor guy is no longer. :-(

 

[Reptiliatus]

Sorry to hear that... I hope your ooths are fertile .

 

[glock34girl]

Me too. She had a 6th one this morning. So either gonna have a lot of nymphs OR a lot of ooths available for pinning lol

 

[aNisip]

Sad face ....I hope they're all fertile...I guess you'll kno in a couple of days...

 

[glock34girl]

Yeah. We've all been looking at Yen's journals, I think to determine when they are supposed to hatch. Some of the literature in Spanish says they hatch "in summer" or "fall" but not a duration, at least that I didn't see. So, yen's log on his fassicata have been right this far. If they are, nymphs should be here this weekend but Iam not too sure.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Where did you find Yen's journal?

 

[glock34girl]

@science girl.... USAmantis.com I think it was.

For the rest of ya's.... Ladies and gentleman, I present to you.... Empusa Pennata L1!

 

[gripen]

Now the tank is self feeding

Be sure not to sell to many of these. You should keep some for yourself to guarantee the next generation!

 

[glock34girl]

Now the tank is self feeding

Be sure not to sell to many of these. You should keep some for yourself to guarantee the next generation!

Haha! I took the lady out. She looks to be at the end of her life span. Very sweet personality. Yeah, I have to keep these guys so we can start a strong foundation of them. You guys will all enjoy them when I am able to sell but there is still a lot to figure out and document so they stay strong in culture!

 

[gripen]

You might want to diapause this generation if it is true there is two gens a season. The adults may last longer if you do that.

 

[glock34girl]

Yeah Iam researching the ins and outs of that.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Very cool!