Two days ago, all my bluebottles ran out, leaving me with no food. Now today, still none of the second batch have hatched. My mantis, an adult female california mantis, had gone without food for two days. So, desparate, I made up something I call Fruit Fly mash.
I went out to the compost and collected a bunch of fruit flies in a plastic container. I then took them inside and killed them in the freezer for ten minutes. After that, I "pasteurized" them by breifly boiling their carcasses on a sauce pan. Then, I mixed these clean little flies up with honey and put it on a stick. I stuck the stick into her cage, and she snatched at it, pulling the goopy mass of flies right off the stick. She appeared to really like it. She even accepted a second helping. Well, as of now, she is still eating, so I can't really know any bad affects, but I will update soon with how it affected her.
I went out to the compost and collected a bunch of fruit flies in a plastic container. I then took them inside and killed them in the freezer for ten minutes. After that, I "pasteurized" them by breifly boiling their carcasses on a sauce pan. Then, I mixed these clean little flies up with honey and put it on a stick. I stuck the stick into her cage, and she snatched at it, pulling the goopy mass of flies right off the stick. She appeared to really like it. She even accepted a second helping. Well, as of now, she is still eating, so I can't really know any bad affects, but I will update soon with how it affected her.