Hi...noob from CT

[zGhost]

Hi all,

My name is Ed and I just got started got into caring for these cool bugs.

I currently have a L4? Ghost. I am not positive what instar my mantis, named Z, was when I received him/her. I know my buddy molted twice since I have been the owner.

I have been reading up on these forum when I have the time. The web/google wasn't overly helpful with mantis knowledge so I am looking forward to hearing from people with real experience.

As a little background, my main hobby is growing carnivorous plants. Last year my wife and I found a "stick" on the front door in November, and as I was about to clear it from the welcome mat with my shoe, I saw that it was not at stick at all, but a mantis...and not in good shape with the 20 degree weather we were having. I took her in asap and kept her in a warm room. She perked up for a few days, but then passed very quickly. I noticed black junk on the cage she was in and read up on black death. I think we had her for a week tops, but my wife was very upset at her passing...big surprise to me as my wife is a girly girl, not into "creepy bugs." Fast forward to a Month ago, I found my girly girl wife out back with my little plastic cup I use to catch flies...well, she did it, caught my lil ghost a meal! What a wife!!!

Trying not to be too long winded here...

Anyway, HELLO all my fellow bug keepers

 

[agent A]

hello fellow CT member

that ghost is a male and is likely L5 or older

welcome to the forum

 

[zGhost]

Thanks agent A. I have a hard time counting those segments.

 

[hibiscusmile]

haha, nice story! everyone falls for the mantis bug!

 

[Rick]

Welcome

 

[AxolotlsAreCoolToo]

Yeah CT!!! nice to meet you

 

[Pizzaparlor45]

Welcome

 

[sally]

Welcome

 

[agent A]

Thanks agent A. I have a hard time counting those segments.

thats not how i can tell

 

[Sticky]

Welcome! I used to live in Westport.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Welcome! You can tell whether it's male or female by the crown. That one's male and appears to be around L6. I like your story! Lol. :lol: Even my mom likes my mantids now!

 

[HungryGhost]

Welcome from another tri-state noob! I'm hoping to get some ghost nymphs for myself soon.

 

[zGhost]

Thanks agent A and WolfPuppy The crown is the giveaway. Umkay...so of course I googled female ghost mantis, and the crown looks a bit broader?!?! Is that how you distinguish?

I checked from the site I bough Z from,(unfortunately the info is not up anymore) and IIRC, I bought an L2...add 2 molts I should be L4?!?! This is my first ghost so no experience in judging the nymph stage.

agent A and AxolotisAreCoolToo - You are both in CT as well?

Sticky - I grew up in Fairfield, just a stones throw away

Thanks for the warm welcome. Not used to so much interest in an Introduction thread. Insect people are the best!!

 

[AxolotlsAreCoolToo]

agent A and AxolotisAreCoolToo - You are both in CT as well?

Thanks for the warm welcome. Not used to so much interest in an Introduction thread. Insect people are the best!!

Yes we are

Yay for insect people!

 

[zGhost]

I had to look up Axolotls...didn't know what it was. So it's essentially a giant salamander?

 

[AxolotlsAreCoolToo]

um more like Tiger salamander larvae, they have external gills vs the giant salamander's internal and much smaller

I had to look up Axolotls...didn't know what it was. So it's essentially a giant salamander?

heck benders are impressive as well

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Here are two images I recently took of my ghosties. They are both L5. The first one (Melanie) is a female, and the second one (Maoilseachlainn) is a male. The male's crown is thinner than that of the female, it bends to one side, and it almost looks kind of 'forked' at the end when the mantis gets a little older.

I hope that helps you!

~Wolfie

 

[zGhost]

Great shots Wolfie. Thanks, yes, that helps. I have another question if you don't mind. Is there a "preferred" when it comes to a mantids weight? I ask because my ghost has a fat posterior in comparison to the ones you pictured. I don't imagine insect obesity is any healthier then it is for us humans.

 

[zGhost]

My new buddy. L2 South American green mantis.