Empusa pennata

[ismart]

Great job AB! They look fantastic! B)

 

[ABbuggin]

Thanks! The 5 males will have lots of competition over the two females. :lol: I sure wish I could get 1-2 more females..........

 

[jarek]

Thanks! The 5 males will have lots of competition over the two females. :lol: I sure wish I could get 1-2 more females..........

well, you're in better situation than me I have 1 female and two males

 

[ABbuggin]

well, you're in better situation than me I have 1 female and two males

True, lol. I would still like at least one other female. You have E. fasciata right?

 

[jarek]

True, lol. I would still like at least one other female. You have E. fasciata right?

I have 3 pennatas l5 and 3 fasciatas l1.

 

[ABbuggin]

They have been shedding to 6th instar for the past few days.

Big horn!

2 females.

They have some good sized lobes on their abdomens.

A male. Notice the difference in the antenna.

They look like mini ram horns from the side. :lol:

 

[jarek]

my female just molted to 6th instar as well, I'm thinking of diapausing her

 

[ABbuggin]

my female just molted to 6th instar as well, I'm thinking of diapausing her

Wait until sub-adult.

 

[jarek]

Well, I'm gonna cool her bit by bit so it doesn't shock her suddenly.

 

[ABbuggin]

I have sub-adults!!

Female

Male

Another pic of the male showing his goofy antenna. :lol:

Per Christian's advice (thanks again!!) I will be putting them into diapause in 1-2 weeks from now. Once it is all set up, I'll show yal how I converted a mini fridge for their "diapause chamber". B)

 

[agent A]

I have sub-adults!!

Female

Male

Another pic of the male showing his goofy antenna. :lol:

Per Christian's advice (thanks again!!) I will be putting them into diapause in 1-2 weeks from now. Once it is all set up, I'll show yal how I converted a mini fridge for their "diapause chamber". B)

where are these guys from? what temperature do they need to diapause at?

 

[ABbuggin]

They are from Spain. Light and temperature have to be progressively reduced until there is 8 hours of light a day, and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything will be on timers to make it easy.

 

[Rick]

What is the purpose of diapause with these?

 

[jarek]

What is the purpose of diapause with these?

If they don't get diapause they will not be very healthy and will not breed.

 

[ABbuggin]

Christian said they could skip the diapause if they were not exposed to natural light, and only had constant high temps. I'm doing a diapause because I wanted to give it a shot.

 

[Rick]

Christian said they could skip the diapause if they were not exposed to natural light, and only had constant high temps. I'm doing a diapause because I wanted to give it a shot.

So it's basically just a cool period which they experience in the wild?

 

[ABbuggin]

Yes.

 

[PhilinYuma]

So it's basically just a cool period which they experience in the wild?

The cool period breaks the diapause induced by the reduced photoperiod. The cool period has no effect if the ooth is not already in diapause.

 

[ABbuggin]

The cool period breaks the diapause induced by the reduced photoperiod. The cool period has no effect if the ooth is not already in diapause.

They do not diapause as ooths, but as sub-adults.

 

[mantidian]

so a dispause period isn't necessary?