Hello!

[RevWillie]

Hi everyone -

I have been a mantis disciple most of my life and started out hatching ooths ~1970 as 'beneficial insects' for Mom's rose garden. They have always made me stop and observe them any time I've seen them over the years; seeing Carolina Mantis in a friend's garden the past 2 years got me thinking about them as pets. FYI I have a good biology-botany-entomology background, do lots of photography, and been an orchid grower/nurseryman for 40 years.

I am starting with 3 orchid mantis nymphs (L2 and L3) and one ghost mantis. All seem to be doing well, eating hydei, and the bigger orchid took a housefly today! My choice of mantis was colorful/interesting looking (for photography), reasonably easy to raise, and medium-large sized (over 2-3"). Already thinking of getting a couple of more ghosts to keep mine company - but I know all to well how easy it is to go overboard...

Bill

 

[Ryan.M]

Welcome to the forum Bill! As macro newbie, I look forward to seeing some of your photography!

 

[ismart]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Hi Bill, welcome and u got a lot of good background, we will look forward to your posts!

 

[Rick]

Welcome

 

[RevWillie]

Thanks for the greetings everybody!

My gang are doing well: all but the ghost have shed and the 3 orchids are gobbling house flies (the equivalent of a 12 year old eating a king-size pillow. Turns out the orchid have distinct eating personalities: the Pig, the Average, and the Picky, and grow accordingly.

Still reading and learning...

 

[PhilinYuma]

Welcome from Yuma, AZ! "Going overboard"? What's that? As long as you have room to sling a hammock to replace bed since you found you could put three more shelves of enclosures there, you should do fine!

 

[RevWillie]

Phil - you enabler you!

 

[sporeworld]

Welcome from Yuma, AZ! "Going overboard"? What's that? As long as you have room to sling a hammock to replace bed since you found you could put three more shelves of enclosures there, you should do fine!

Man, I am SO in that place right now... "Hey! Look at all the ceiling space that i haven't used yet! I could hang like 30 pails from there!!!"

Sigh.

 

[RevWillie]

The lure of the Idolo is strong

... but I am trying to stay with species that are happy around 80 degrees, at least until they are big enough to put in my screen cages outdoors in the Florida heat (92/77 for 7-8 months of the year).

 

[kmsgameboy]

Welcome to the community. I look forward to seeing some photos from you.