Giant Kenyan Bud-wing Mantis, PARASPHENDALE SP. KENYA

Darkrai283 · Oct 21, 2014

[21.10.14]

Woke up this morning to find her on the floor... but she hadn't started moulting yet so I took out that smooth branch from the moulting enclosure and hung her up again.

When I got home, she had successfully moulted to adult while I was away (probably moulted a couple of hours before I got home) but I found her on the floor again which leads me to believe that she damaged some of her tarsi while subadult in some way... and her fall in pre-moult while I was asleep probably had some effect on her too. :/

Unfortunately, she is lethargic and she probably fell while trying to make 'the flip' so she had inflated her wings while on the floor of the enclosure meaning that they were crumpled and so messed up. I really hope she didn't sustain any internal injuries from the fall as her body would've been very soft.

She is a whopper considering that she's a Budwing species! 8cm from head to the subgenital plate... imagine how large she would be when gravid lol.

Pics

IMG_0952 by darkrai283, on Flickr

IMG_0954 by darkrai283, on Flickr

IMG_0953 by darkrai283, on Flickr

Darkrai283 · Oct 21, 2014

BTW, as her wings were still a little soft, I took advantage of it and tried to 'set' and 'straighten-out' her wings by wetting them with water and placing them into the normal position. I don't expect the wings to be in the correct position once the water evaporates but at least they'll be straight without the creases.

Sticky said:
Your male is gorgeous and he knows it!

Thanks Sticky.

MantidLord · Oct 21, 2014

I just finished the first page and I just have to say I love threads like this. Excellent documentation and pictures

dmina · Oct 22, 2014

She looks good...keep us updated I really enjoyed watching the grow...

Darkrai283 · Dec 8, 2014

[25.10.14]

She got very weak so I put her down in the freezer.

Luckily, I contacted Graham and he said that he has a fresh, adult female he can spare.