Graceface's Mantis family

[MantisGirl13]

Do you have any males for her? I hope Heidi molts soon!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Do you have any males for her? I hope Heidi molts soon!

- MantisGirl13

Yes, I have 3 who are about 3 wks mature right now. I'm hoping they will hang on for her!

 

[Mantis Lady]

Gratz on all the molts I am still waiting for 1 last molt, and that is Ayaweya. She hasn't eaten for days now.

 

[MantisGirl13]

I hope that your males can hang on for another two weeks! 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

I haven't posted an update in a while, (mostly because I couldn't get photo bucket to upload my photos, lol) so here is the latest happenings here

Heidi and Jane are both adults now. Heidi will be going on her first date with Flynn next week. We will see how it goes. 

Bellatrix (my subadult green ghost) is about to molt to adult. I'm so excited! It'll be my first adult ghost

Iris, my one armed ghost female, is changing color to green! She was rusty brown until she hit L6. Below is a photo of her cool new colors

 

[Mantis Lady]

She looks beautiful. I can keep hope that Spooky might turn green too.

 

[Graceface]

Bellatrix is molting right now in broad daylight! So excited! 

 

[hysteresis]

Bellatrix is molting right now in broad daylight! So excited! 

Awesome! Firing up the pom poms!

Go Go Bellatrix! 

 

[Graceface]

I think the cheering helped... She is an adult! I don't want to disturb her until later, but she looks like she has molted just fine

Photobucket isn't uploading right now (ugh) so I can't share the bad photo I took. I'll take better shots later and maybe it will actually upload them

I'm so proud of her! 

 

[hysteresis]

@Graceface that's awesome! 

We take our little bits of joy wherever we can.

Yes, pics when you're able.

 

[Graceface]

Looks like my bad photo uploaded (finally!) Here is Bellatrix standing next to her molt, in triumph

 

[hysteresis]

So when they molt they NEED their back legs to work?

What if they have a damaged rear leg? Do they adjust?

 

[Graceface]

So when they molt they NEED their back legs to work?

What if they have a damaged rear leg? Do they adjust?

Yes, they shimmy out of their skin and grip the old exoskeleton with all legs as they emerge, then flip and climb up it. So, they do use all of their legs. I have had mantises with missing legs or missing tarsi molt just fine, if that helps you feel better

 

[MantisGirl13]

She is beautiful, @Graceface!! Congratulations!

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

@Graceface 

Thank you very much. THAT is great information for a newcomer like me.

My injured H. venosa girl needs a better left rear leg and new left raptorial tarsus (floppy). She can hang from all six tarsi through. 

Here's hoping! 

 

[Graceface]

@Graceface 

Thank you very much. THAT is great information for a newcomer like me.

My injured H. venosa girl needs a better left rear leg and new left raptorial tarsus (floppy). She can hang from all six tarsi through. 

Here's hoping! 

She should regenerate limbs/tarsi and molt well despite injuries. If she can hang from all 4 back legs she will definitely be fine, imo.

I've read instances here of mantids so severely injured they had to be taped in place and still molting successfully, so I think your girl stands a good chance with her injuries

 

[Mantis Lady]

gratz on the molt

 

[Graceface]

Here she is, my first adult ghost! Bellatrix is so pretty! Her wings are a more yellow color, but she kept the green  

 

[hysteresis]

Gorgeous ghost!

 

[Mantis Lady]

She is beautiful