Happy Halloween!

[animalexplorer]

Love Halloween and thought I would share. Just wish I wasn't too old to go 'Trick or Treating'. Screw it! I'm going anyway!

It's also been a little over a month since I posted. I was away down in California supervising Emerald Forest Bird Gardens.

Most of my mantids did pretty good while I was away thanks to Laurie, my significant other who did a fantastic job while I

was away. Lots of molts and hatchings with little loss. Picture below is one of my females which molted while I was away.

 

[lunarstorm]

Nice! :devil:

None of my mantids will threat display for me (and I refuse to harass em), otherwise I'd be tempted to create a Halloween shot too.

 

[twolfe]

Beautiful mantis and well done!

Nice! :devil:

None of my mantids will threat display for me (and I refuse to harass em), otherwise I'd be tempted to create a Halloween shot too.

I don't like to harrass mine either, but Idolos sometimes display without much effort, e.g., just trying to pick one up or pass it a fly. Have you tried Budwings?

 

[Precarious]

Wow! Gorgeous photo!

 

[minard734]

Nice! :devil:

None of my mantids will threat display for me (and I refuse to harass em), otherwise I'd be tempted to create a Halloween shot too.

Just wave something in front of them. No need to hurt them. Rapid movements close to to them will work.

 

[animalexplorer]

Nice! :devil:

None of my mantids will threat display for me (and I refuse to harass em), otherwise I'd be tempted to create a Halloween shot too.

Holding a mantid is enough to stress it out, such as your avatar displays. Quite honestly in my opinion I don't really see a problem with it as they will probably more than likely display this behavior in the wild in real time scenarios. I have 2 idolos in particular that raise their raptorial arms at the slightest movement while some don't even display that behavior at all. I don't really see a problem with me taking photos when opportunity permits. They carry on about their business as usual such as eating or interacting with others or just moving about the enclosures after I photograph them. As long as I have been keeping mantids I have never lost a mantid from taking pictures. But don't fool yourself, the day you brought a mantid in your house you are no better than me or any of the others that keep mantids but only equal.