PlayingMantis
Well-known member
.
Last edited by a moderator:
Hestiasula's gigantic ooth
- Thread starter PlayingMantis
- Start date
Help Support Mantidforum:
LAME
Tenodera sinensis (the one and only)
Omg that's crazy! Lol, its almost twice the mantids size! 
MantisMatt14
Well-known member
I would really love to get into this species! great job!
So exciting... This is one of my all time favorites! congrats on the breeding... but sorry for your loss.. I may have a spare male.. I will let you know.. I am supposed to have 2 females coming.. but from Europe... with was sent over 2 weeks ago.. I think it may be lost???? If I don't get it in the next couple days... I can send you my male for a second mating, if interested?... congrats on the ooth.. but new to these guys myself... so I can't help you out with the details... sorry
Last edited by a moderator:
MantisMatt14
Well-known member
That is one crazy looking ooth. Looks like someone got out the Great Stuff expanding foam or something. Amazing.
Sorry to hear about your male. Best of luck with your ooth hatching though.
Regarding tips surely someone will respond with specific humidity and temperatures for your specific species (as they do tend to vary). For that a thermometer with a hydrometer will tell you the levels you have. I picked up two different branded digital ones that way I have a more accurate idea.
General incubation tips though - if you remove the ooth be sure to do it carefully and reattach it inside another container in the same orientation. I found lately for best results to keep a constant humidity. I do this by filling the bottom of the incubation container with coconut fiber (I use Plantation Soil), and keeping it moist.
Likely you have very low humidity levels in your home due to winter heating. As most ooths require about 50% humidity, and most homes this time of year can get to 15%, a humidifier would help. I picked one up awhile back for only $5 used - it helped get rid of the static shock when petting my cats, and keeps my room humidity level around 40% (versus 25% without it).
Use excelsior to give the nymphs something to land in if needed, on top of the substrate. It will though make for a pain when removing the nymphs so I personally don't bother with excelsior anymore as they just climb down the twig the ooth is attached to. I mist my containers once a day being sure not to leave any water drops, wiping them up, as nymphs will become trapped in them and die ( I had that happen once, a massacre).
Lastly, unless told otherwise just keep the ooth at room temperatures of 72+ degrees. I tried a heating pad that kept my ooth containers in between 80 to 85 degrees - but all it seemed to do was dry up the ooths and likely killing more nymphs before they hatched. I have since removed the heating pad and have had much better luck.
I checked the usual MantisPlace and BugsInCyberspace with no luck, at least none right now. Best bet is to run a WTB (Wanted To Buy) ad on the classifieds here on the forum. That way other members will see it, as your post will likely go unnoticed here.
yes, keep the ooth just like u did the mantis, what worked for her, will work for ooth. she was getting rid of the extra material.
Bugmankeith
Well-known member
How is that physically possible LOL!
PlayingMantis
Well-known member
So far so good, the ooth is still green as ever. I've read somewhere that the incubation time is only 3 weeks!
Denise - I hope your package shows up soon! I ordered stuff from Europe twice and it took around 4-5 days, but I guess it depends on the postal service. On the other hand, once a box of nymphs got "lost" for 10 days (shipped within the US) and to my surprise they actually all survived. :blink: I'd be interested in the male if you end up having him to spare, I don't know if I may need to remate my female or not, may need to after the first few ooths, or if the first ooth doesn't hatch. :stuart:
Thomas - yeah, you're right, my home is actually very, very dry. I do have a humidifier but I probably need a second one, because one humidifier doesn't seem to be enough. Currently my room temp is 75F, the same temp that I keep the adults. I have a lot of damp paper towels as a substrate to keep up the humidity levels.
As to where to get this species...I've seen it offered for sale once or twice in the classifieds section. I guess they're not that common since they're new to culture. My first priority is to establish a culture (a large enough breeding group) for future breeding purposes. If I end up having extras, I may sell some, but for the time being, I can't say anything for sure.
Denise - I hope your package shows up soon! I ordered stuff from Europe twice and it took around 4-5 days, but I guess it depends on the postal service. On the other hand, once a box of nymphs got "lost" for 10 days (shipped within the US) and to my surprise they actually all survived. :blink: I'd be interested in the male if you end up having him to spare, I don't know if I may need to remate my female or not, may need to after the first few ooths, or if the first ooth doesn't hatch. :stuart:
Thomas - yeah, you're right, my home is actually very, very dry. I do have a humidifier but I probably need a second one, because one humidifier doesn't seem to be enough. Currently my room temp is 75F, the same temp that I keep the adults. I have a lot of damp paper towels as a substrate to keep up the humidity levels.
As to where to get this species...I've seen it offered for sale once or twice in the classifieds section. I guess they're not that common since they're new to culture. My first priority is to establish a culture (a large enough breeding group) for future breeding purposes. If I end up having extras, I may sell some, but for the time being, I can't say anything for sure.
Wow, a fast incubation time for sure. That leaves a little over 2 weeks till you are swarming with baby nymphs. Be sure to show off some baby pictures when they show.So far so good, the ooth is still green as ever. I've read somewhere that the incubation time is only 3 weeks!
Thomas - yeah, you're right, my home is actually very, very dry. I do have a humidifier but I probably need a second one, because one humidifier doesn't seem to be enough. Currently my room temp is 75F, the same temp that I keep the adults. I have a lot of damp paper towels as a substrate to keep up the humidity levels.
As to where to get this species...I've seen it offered for sale once or twice in the classifieds section. I guess they're not that common since they're new to culture. My first priority is to establish a culture (a large enough breeding group) for future breeding purposes. If I end up having extras, I may sell some, but for the time being, I can't say anything for sure.
Sounds like your in good shape then. Yeah another humidifier would likely help, I'm in the same boat on that.
PlayingMantis
Well-known member
Well, her first ooth didn't hatch. maybe it was too dry or something. Her 2nd ooth, laid on February 16th, hatched today, 46 days later! Only 7 nymphs though. Very tiny and cute, and they already know how to do their signature "arm-waving." I had pretty much given up hope on that ooth, so I was surprised when I saw a little baby sitting on the ooth, and when I looked closer, there were a couple others. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they have short incubation times, but I suppose incubation times vary.
Since then, she has laid 2 more huge green ooths, and I hope those hatch...
maybe it was too dry or something. Her 2nd ooth, laid on February 16th, hatched today, 46 days later! Only 7 nymphs though. Very tiny and cute, and they already know how to do their signature "arm-waving." I had pretty much given up hope on that ooth, so I was surprised when I saw a little baby sitting on the ooth, and when I looked closer, there were a couple others. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they have short incubation times, but I suppose incubation times vary.Since then, she has laid 2 more huge green ooths, and I hope those hatch...
Last edited by a moderator:
Congratulations on your new Hestiasula generation.
I Imagine the low hatch rate, and the first ooth not hatching, did have to do with humidity. I used a heating pad briefly to help my ooths hatch and all it seemed to do was evaporate the moisture much faster in the incubation containers.
All the ooths I used a heat pad on had very low hatch rates, and had 2 to 7 nymphs hatch on average about 4 days apart for several months. One such ooth hatched 35 nymphs total (typical is 100 to 200 on the species) and the last nymph to hatch was on day 98 of incubating (and incubation time is average 28-42 days (4 to 6 weeks)).
So don't give up on the ooth yet, it may still hatch more nymphs within the next few weeks.
The ooths I incubated before and after the heating pad incident haven't had such issues. I also mist the incubation containers twice a day now - once in the morning and again in the evening. The coconut substrate in the containers help release humidity throughout the day too. You may want to increase misting your ooth incubation containers to get better results.
I Imagine the low hatch rate, and the first ooth not hatching, did have to do with humidity. I used a heating pad briefly to help my ooths hatch and all it seemed to do was evaporate the moisture much faster in the incubation containers.
All the ooths I used a heat pad on had very low hatch rates, and had 2 to 7 nymphs hatch on average about 4 days apart for several months. One such ooth hatched 35 nymphs total (typical is 100 to 200 on the species) and the last nymph to hatch was on day 98 of incubating (and incubation time is average 28-42 days (4 to 6 weeks)).
So don't give up on the ooth yet, it may still hatch more nymphs within the next few weeks.
The ooths I incubated before and after the heating pad incident haven't had such issues. I also mist the incubation containers twice a day now - once in the morning and again in the evening. The coconut substrate in the containers help release humidity throughout the day too. You may want to increase misting your ooth incubation containers to get better results.
Krissim Klaw
Well-known member
That is insane. I've seen photos of some large oothecae, but that is the first time I've seen one that was larger than the female that laid it. Is this common for this species?
PlayingMantis
Well-known member
The aforementioned ooth hatched 3 more nymphs the second day, for a total of 10 nymphs. One nymph died within 24 hours for no apparent reason. I hope the rest make it...
CosbyArt, I think the low humidity must've been the culprit. I've had serious delays with all the ooths I've been incubating past the winter. My P.W. ooths were taking 2 months to hatch, with below average hatch rates, except for one, which hatched 70+. My indoor room humidity was very dry. Even with 2 humidifiers and misting 3 times a day (morning before work, evening after work, and night before going to bed), it didn't seem to be enough. And I must admit a few times I let the humidifiers run dry for a couple of hours because I got home late from work. Fortunately, springtime is here and my indoor humidity is 50% -60% now. Come May/June, my indoor humidity gets as high as 70%, which will be very conducive to future hatch rates. However I need to make sure not to mist too much, or else my ooths would mold!
Krissim Klaw, yes, the ooths are unbelievably huge. It's bizarre how the females are able to fit so much ooth material inside their abdomens. I know much of the ooth is foam, but still, it's mindboggling.
CosbyArt, I think the low humidity must've been the culprit. I've had serious delays with all the ooths I've been incubating past the winter. My P.W. ooths were taking 2 months to hatch, with below average hatch rates, except for one, which hatched 70+. My indoor room humidity was very dry. Even with 2 humidifiers and misting 3 times a day (morning before work, evening after work, and night before going to bed), it didn't seem to be enough. And I must admit a few times I let the humidifiers run dry for a couple of hours because I got home late from work. Fortunately, springtime is here and my indoor humidity is 50% -60% now. Come May/June, my indoor humidity gets as high as 70%, which will be very conducive to future hatch rates. However I need to make sure not to mist too much, or else my ooths would mold!
Krissim Klaw, yes, the ooths are unbelievably huge. It's bizarre how the females are able to fit so much ooth material inside their abdomens. I know much of the ooth is foam, but still, it's mindboggling.
PlayingMantis
Well-known member
The female's 4th ooth, laid last week:
Second photo is of the babies. Interestingly, they seem to "communicate" with each other - when one nymph approaches another, it will do its hand-waving, and the other nymph will sometimes respond in a similar way.
Second photo is of the babies. Interestingly, they seem to "communicate" with each other - when one nymph approaches another, it will do its hand-waving, and the other nymph will sometimes respond in a similar way.
Last edited by a moderator:
I've been there too, no matter how hard I tried at times it isn't enough. At least humidity is getting away from winter (20% more humidity now myself) and you have more ooths so your oods should improve - plus you have experience so it will help. Best of luck and let us know how it turns out.
Nice to see your female is still at it with laying ooths, and some baby nymphs. A new generation always brings a smile to my face.
Nice to see your female is still at it with laying ooths, and some baby nymphs. A new generation always brings a smile to my face.
PlayingMantis
Well-known member
Thanks! Fingers crossed. Her 3rd ooth was laid 3/4, so counting 46 days would lead to approximately 4/19. So far, the 9 babies are eating and getting fat, and doing their hand-waving whenever I approach. The mother has eaten a bunch of flies and half a super worm, looks like she's preparing for ooth #5. However I'm not sure how fertile it'll be since she was mated just once. I read somewhere that one boxer mating is good for 3-4 ooths. Don't know how true that is.I've been there too, no matter how hard I tried at times it isn't enough. At least humidity is getting away from winter (20% more humidity now myself) and you have more ooths so your oods should improve - plus you have experience so it will help. Best of luck and let us know how it turns out.
Nice to see your female is still at it with laying ooths, and some baby nymphs. A new generation always brings a smile to my face.
