Giant Shield mantis - Rhombodera sp.

[yen_saw]

Finally two of the smallest females (with smaller shield) molted into adult today, her shield expanded quite a bit on the last molt and about 7.5 cm but still small compare to the other subadult female, i'm looking forward to see a larger shield for those larger females. Now i hope the male will molt out alright. If possible, I will keep another generation before quitting it.

Here is the comparison between two subadult female, the one on the left is going to molt (which has molted recently), but appeared smaller than the subadult female on the right which molted out just 2 days ago.

Here is the average size of a subadult female at about 6 cm, this one is about 6.5 if measure from head to tip of abdomen.

Pic of the small adult female

Enjoy!

 

[Asa]

They look so cool when they're older! I've only got nymphs.

 

[yen_saw]

Asa, you will start to see sign of shield at L4/L5. The shield grows up pretty quick each moult after that.

 

[Asa]

Cool. I'm at L3.

 

[yen_saw]

ah ok won't be long now :wink:

It took me only 2 months to raise them from hatchling to adult so you should see sign of shield by end of this month.

 

[yen_saw]

4 subadult females and the last subadult male have decided to molt into adult yesterday, it is great to see all of them molt out alright and none has mis-moulting issue going into adult so far (just hate to see they come so far just to mismolt on the last moult). Will wait for 2 weeks and start to pair them up, lets hope the female can be nice to the male as they outnumbered male in 4 to 1 ratio :shock:

 

[Asa]

Did the mantid in the second picture get hurt? It looks as if something green is oozing out.

 

[yen_saw]

No that i know Asa. She looks fine to me.

 

[Asa]

Okay, that's good.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Glad so many have come through successfully out of what you had left.

One word of caution though - I'd wait more than 2 weeks until you try to pair them, these are very aggresive towards the males.

Rob.

 

[Kriss]

That males got his work cut out for him.

They are very beautiful Yen, great mantids.

 

[RodG]

More great photos Yen!!! Best of luck with them.

 

[Asa]

How did you make the lids for the cages? Drill a hole and cover it with mesh?

 

[yen_saw]

Thanks guys.

Just cut a hole in the center, and hot glue it with mesh screen. the lid on top left and right are readily made when bought.

 

[Ian]

That's awesome Yen! I think you are probably the first breeder to have successfully reared so many to adult...let's hope your luck progresses when you breed them

 

[Asa]

Yeah, don't let the male get killed! It turns out, that I have all females

 

[yen_saw]

Thanks Ian, hopefully this species will be around in large quantity and more readily available to mantis hobbyists. Just hope breeding will do fine, i am sure it will be another "orchid boom" for me if this species can breed well cos ootheca hatched out at least hundred nymphs

 

[Ian]

That's not bad at all...even better if you get some killer ooths like you did with the Hymenopus =]

Keep us up to date bud.

 

[yen_saw]

My last subadult female moluted into adult...yay!!

Asa Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:59 am Post subject: Yeah, don't let the male get killed! It turns out, that I have all females

I hope to have some male left for you, the first pair mated today. She's adult since 6/31 and male's adult just 10 days ago. I tried couple of days ago and the male appeared not interested with the female at all. Today, female appear to be releasing phermones (spelling!) so it does work this time. Female is constantly interested with the male (as food source) until i stuffed her up nicely.

 

[OGIGA]

Wow, nice! Does the shield keep the female from grabbing the male or anything?