Giant Australian Mantis, HIERODULA MAJUSCULA

[Darkrai283]

[13.02.15]

5th instar here we come!

The male in the previous set of pics moulted to 5th instar in the afternoon and he is still keeping the orangy/red colouration.

IMG_2625 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_2618 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_2624 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_2641 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

 

[CosbyArt]

Very nice coloring on the male. Much more unique than the typical green/brown found on mantises - is this a normal color range? I'm curious if he will pass on the color to his offspring.

 

[macromatt]

Beautiful!!

 

[Darkrai283]

Very nice coloring on the male. Much more unique than the typical green/brown found on mantises - is this a normal color range? I'm curious if he will pass on the color to his offspring.

Yup, it's normal for H. majuscula. I had some nymphs with this 'colour morph' last year as well but the orange colouration faded away at around 6th instar to a normal green colour.

 

[dmina]

Really cute! growing so fast! beautiful colors..

 

[CosbyArt]

Yup, it's normal for H. majuscula. I had some nymphs with this 'colour morph' last year as well but the orange colouration faded away at around 6th instar to a normal green colour.

Ah too bad, that would be awesome. Although it seems they keep some of it on their raptor forearms at least.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Sorry you lost your initial female, but congrats on doing so well with the nymphs. You have some really lovely photos of them. =3

 

[Darkrai283]

[16.02.15]

A sexing pic of two 4th instars.

FEMALE:
IMG_2685 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

MALE:
IMG_2694 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

 

[Darkrai283]

[12.03.15]

The first 6th instar (male).

IMG_3051 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_3038 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_3037 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

 

[Darkrai283]

[27.03.15]

A pic of the same male in the last set of photos (still 6th instar).

Plus two photos of him compared with another 6th instar male which has a typical green colouration. All I needed was another deep red specimen to create some mantis traffic lights.

IMG_3266 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_3258 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_3257 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

 

[papilio_]

Wow, quite impressive Richard!!

 

[Darkrai283]

[31.03.15]

Sorry guys, but here's another two pics of him as a test subject for my first attempt at using a DIY lightbox.

IMG_3344 by Darkrai283, on Flickr
IMG_3341 by Darkrai283, on Flickr

 

[Darkrai283]

Really cute! growing so fast! beautiful colors..

Sorry you lost your initial female, but congrats on doing so well with the nymphs. You have some really lovely photos of them. =3

Thanks!

 

[Darkrai283]

Wow, quite impressive Richard!!

Thanks papilio. I love this species so much.

 

[papilio_]

Nice work on the light box! I'll have to give that a try, never have yet ...

 

[dmina]

Beautiful pics... beautiful Mantis... Wow amazing color.. Keep us updated..