H. Coronatus- changed colour of a few days

[matt020593]

OK so my Orchid mantis has been white since I got it and it has been kept on a shelf where i keep most my mantids which isnt near a window or artifically lit(but isnt dark), but last week I moved it to a windowsil, a couple of days later I then moved it to be kept near a heat lamp on top of one of my reptile vivariums. I sprayed it everyday throughout the changes. I checked the mantis yesterday and it is much more of a pink tinted colour. I thought the colour change was quite interesting.

Before

After

 

[Katnapper]

Hmmm... that is interesting. She's a little beauty.

 

[kakistos]

Sometimes this happens, it's quite interesting! The change color in between molds. Pelle as documented his color-change experience with his Orchids on this forum too.

So your mantid changed when but closer to natural light? Did you change anything else, like misting frequency or the heating?

 

[Peter Clausen]

This is common L5 to sub-adult orchid mantis females that are within 1-3 weeks of molting. The closer they get to molting, the deeper the pink becomes to an almost purple shade at times. This color often fades immediately after the molt and then completely by the following week.

 

[Dinora]

Mine has gone from a pale pink to a solid white with the last molt (2 days ago)

Whatever color it chooses to be, it's still beautiful!

I've been looking for a good camera to take pictures soon.

 

[matt020593]

It seemed to change when near the heat bulb. But thats an interesting point Peter she should be due a moult anytime soon. I'll post pics when she does.