Graceface's Mantis family

[MantisGirl13]

Wow! She is truly beautiful! 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Thanks, everyone! Here is a cute pic of my newly molted adult male orchid, Kevin, posing for the camera

 

[MantisGirl13]

Ooh, he's beautiful! Do you have any females that are subadult?

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Ooh, he's beautiful! Do you have any females that are subadult?

- MantisGirl13

I have 4 females, but I'm not 100% sure of their instar.

I believe Letty and Heidi are subadult now. They just molted recently, so I will find out for sure in the next month when they either molt again or molt to adult. 

Jane is due for a molt any day now, then she will be the same instar as Letty and Heidi. 

Ingrid is due for a molt also, but she may be an instar ahead of her sisters and may be subadult currently. I say that because she was larger upon arrival, and currently her wing buds and abdomen are huge, making me think she may be molting to adult this time. She hasn't eaten in 4 days so I'm hoping she will molt tonight. She is always hungry, so it's not like her to ignore food unless a molt is imminent 

 

[Graceface]

Flynn is molting to adult right now! Had to leave him and go to work ?

 

[Mantis Lady]

Aww missing seeing a molt Hope you ca seeing another mantis molt soon.

 

[MantisGirl13]

 How did his molt go? If Ingrid's wingbuds are fat, then she should be molting to adult! No eating is a good sign! I hope she has a good molt.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Flynn molted successfully,  but still no molt from Ingrid. Today is day 5 of no food. I'm going to offer it, as I have been daily, but it is lending weight to my guess that she will molt to adult. In her previous molts, she never took this long or refused food for so many days. I am a bit concerned, as I am a worrier and have anxiety issues. I'm sure she is fine and is going to molt when she is ready ?

I'll get pics of her swollen wing buds and of freshly molted Flynn a little later

 

[Graceface]

Here is Ingrid today:

 

[Mantis Lady]

gratz on the molt of flynn.

Ingrid is indeed very close to her final molt. The last molt take some time to prepare for. So a longer time of no eating. I hope she will molt fine and get beautiful wings.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Here is Ingrid today:

Yay! She will molt any day to adult for sure! I want to see pics when it happens! Keep us updated!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Yay! She will molt any day to adult for sure! I want to see pics when it happens! Keep us updated!

- MantisGirl13

She is hanging on the lid of her enclosure now. I hope she molts tonight! If she does, you know I will be too excited not to share! I haven't had a female Orchid molt to adult yet, so she will be my first. 

 

[MantisGirl13]

She is hanging on the lid of her enclosure now. I hope she molts tonight! If she does, you know I will be too excited not to share! I haven't had a female Orchid molt to adult yet, so she will be my first. 

This is so exciting! Did she molt last night?

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

I hope she will molt while you are still awake and not doing it at night. and did she molt last night?

 

[Graceface]

She molted last night!

Luckily, I got out of work early and I was here to help her, because her exoskeleton was stuck on the end of her abdomen. It was causing her to not be able to get her rear legs onto the shedding surface, so she was hanging by 2 legs from the lid.

 After she got her wings inflated, I ever so carefully got out her enclosure, lifted the lid, and helped her out of the last bit. It came right off and she seems fine now. I haven't gotten her out yet this morning, but she is huge and beautiful!

I'll get some photos later for you guys. I'm just so proud of her!!!

 

[Graceface]

Here is Ingrid...with wings! So proud of her ❤ 





She may have sustained damage during her mismolt. One of her wings isn't sitting flat, and I'm not sure her cercus, or the end of her abdomen, is normal looking. Maybe someone else can help me tell. Here are some closer shots I took of the area in question:

A bit hazy, because it is through the 32oz cup:



Here is the area cropped from another photo:



She hasn't shown interest in food yet, which is to be expected. I'm hoping she will be fine, and that her cercus is normal so she can breed

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

Beautiful! 

I have no idea about her cercus... Not my area of expertee. But I am sure someone will happen along to relieve your curiousity!

Thx for the Ghosts @Graceface, one molted to L4 today.

 

[Graceface]

Beautiful! 

I have no idea about her cercus... Not my area of expertee. But I am sure someone will happen along to relieve your curiousity!

Thx for the Ghosts @Graceface, one molted to L4 today.

Yes, I'm hoping someone else can help verify if her cercus is normal. 

Glad to hear your Ghosts are doing well. I was going to ask you if they molted yet, their siblings are starting to molt to L4 as of yesterday

 

[MantisGirl13]

I am so glad she molted! Her cerci look fine to me, and her wings are not a huge worry. She is beautiful!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Thank you, @MantisGirl13 ? I'm so happy and proud of her! 

Jane molted to subadult last night. I can't wait for my her and my other 2 subs to molt to adult, too!