first chinese ooths hatch

[nursemelody]

OMG! I am so excited. This morning, I had 1 out of 3 chinese mantid ooths hatch. I couldnt believe how many of them there were! The only ooth I ever had hatch before was a Euro, and it was NOTHING like this. I will post pics soon as possible. I know we've all been over this again and again, but I am all anxious about rearing them properly... I have three cultures of melanogaster ready to go.... feed them on the third day, right? What about the misting, and how many molts until seperation?? AHHH

 

[ismart]

Yes, start to feed them on the third day. You can start to mist them once a day until they start feeding. Then i would do two times a day.They are usually parched after emerging from the ooth. Just make sure you mist them lightly. L1 nymphs can easily get stuck in water droplets, and drown!

 

[massaman]

you plan to keep them all?

 

[nursemelody]

haha No not all, if they all survived, I would have a massive army!! I plant to keep maybe 10 past the molt where you have to divide them due to cannibalism.... Is it okay you think to release them after the 2nd or 3rd molt... When does the cannibalism start?

 

[ismart]

Cannibalism can start as early as L1. Depending on how much food and space is available. Sure you could release the excess after the third molt. It's really up to you on how many you want to keep?

 

[nursemelody]

Well I have the ooth in one of Hibiscuses' mantis nurseries with excelsior.... I have three culture of roaring melanogasters... so I think that will be enough food and space..... I just want to know when to let out the ones I am not keeping...before they start eating each other...

 

[ismart]

Thats just it. They can begin to eat each other at any given time, at any stage. Even with plenty of space, and food. You could alway just wait till there like L3, and what ever excess you have, you could release?

 

[sporeworld]

You can add the fruit flies on the second day, just in case. I don't think they can do much harm.

 

[nursemelody]

So BASICALLY unless I separate each and everyone of them some cannibalism is going to occur before I set them free on the 3rd molt?

I will add the flies tomorrow then....

 

[patrickfraser]

Good luck. This morning one of my male chinese nymphs molted to adult. WOOT WOOT. When I left it's wings were starting to expand. It is very exciting to see it through from emergence from ooth to adult. You could let most go and let nature take it's course. Same losses will probably happen in or out. I say to keep maybe 10-20 after 1-2 molts and release the rest. Then separate these into cups of 4-6 each. If well fed, they rarely bother each other. You can keep this way until they killings are out of control. One thing for sure...You'll end up with one mantis per cup. So how many cups do you have????

 

[nursemelody]

I have plenty of cups.. I would imagine saving over 10 anyhow.... I know it varies and all, but how many weeks until 2nd molt is usually occured? And also, when would you switch to hydei flies?

 

[patrickfraser]

Mine molted about every 10-14 days, so 2-3 weeks. Mine were able to handle hydei once they started eating. I did baby them with mels as it was my first time and I wasn't sure. It's more fun to see them have to tackle the fly, rather than just snatch it. That's just me. LOL

 

[nursemelody]

Okay here are some pictures:

 

[patrickfraser]

Yep...That looks familiar

 

[macawlover2]

Holy cow that's a lot of mantids! :blink: Congrats on the babies, I just got some chinese nymphs too!

 

[wyethia]

Holy cow that's a lot of mantids! :blink: Congrats on the babies, I just got some chinese nymphs too!

those pictures are so neat! I didn't see mine hatch...and now I wonder how so many survived as I had no idea I was supposed to hang the ooth. Mine are at day 5 and are looking pudgy and happy. They are split into two mesh containers, 2x daily misting and a lot of fruit flies. I've seen some dead, but I have over 50 counted doing well.

Wyethia

 

[ismart]

Nice timing! B)

 

[nursemelody]

So far so good. I have two large mantis nursery containers and several cups at this point... very little casualties.. they are eating everyday.....Plan to keep a few and release the majority on the 30, after 13 days.... my seedling collards, spinach, mustard and salad will be ripe and ready for them to decimate all of aphids who are undoubtedly waiting.