sppc9876
Well-known member
Hey everyone!
I wanted to share my excitement of my first adult pair of "blue flash" mantises. Since I assume that people here are more on the picture side than the story side ... allow me to share. Sorry for the poor lighting
Male - molted between 8/26 and 8/28
molted to subadult on 8/1
Female - molted on 8/29 (around 1 am)
molted to subadult on 8/4
Size comparison between adult female and pre-subadult female (L6)
I had a feeling that both mantises were due for their final molts soon, but I had to take care of some things this weekend away from home. With a measure of hope, I upped the humidity and crossed my fingers hoping that my mantises either didn't molt or that they did it from the right spot. Unfortunately I missed my male's molt, but I did make it back in time to witness my female mid-molt and with good reason since she decided to molt right next to one of the walls of my plastic container which inhibited her from climbing up properly to inflate her wings.
I had to CAREFULLY removed the lid and persuade her (with a soft touch) to hang from the ceiling. It was certainly worth the risk since she has a beautiful pair of wings. B)
On a side note, this is a picture of the L6 female before she molted for reference as to what this species (and others) look like when they are imminently due for a molt. It's so amazing how she went from a bright green to a brownish coloration with a faint green to it but the coloration is way too random to control (or is it - experiment time!)
Finally can join everyone with adults and big mantises!
I wanted to share my excitement of my first adult pair of "blue flash" mantises. Since I assume that people here are more on the picture side than the story side ... allow me to share. Sorry for the poor lighting
Male - molted between 8/26 and 8/28
molted to subadult on 8/1
Female - molted on 8/29 (around 1 am)
molted to subadult on 8/4
Size comparison between adult female and pre-subadult female (L6)
I had a feeling that both mantises were due for their final molts soon, but I had to take care of some things this weekend away from home. With a measure of hope, I upped the humidity and crossed my fingers hoping that my mantises either didn't molt or that they did it from the right spot. Unfortunately I missed my male's molt, but I did make it back in time to witness my female mid-molt and with good reason since she decided to molt right next to one of the walls of my plastic container which inhibited her from climbing up properly to inflate her wings.
I had to CAREFULLY removed the lid and persuade her (with a soft touch) to hang from the ceiling. It was certainly worth the risk since she has a beautiful pair of wings. B) On a side note, this is a picture of the L6 female before she molted for reference as to what this species (and others) look like when they are imminently due for a molt. It's so amazing how she went from a bright green to a brownish coloration with a faint green to it but the coloration is way too random to control (or is it - experiment time!)
Finally can join everyone with adults and big mantises!
