Hello all... I already introduced myself over on the UK forums so excuse the repeat if you're there too.
Last year I purchased 2 T. sinensis oothecae for my organic garden. My hubby Russ suddenly took waaaaay more interest in the garden and was telling people he was a 'mantis rancher'. Here in Tennessee we have PLENTY of bugs for them to eat so we were pleased to observe mantids all summer long in our garden (although they were too big to devour the cucumber beetles I really wanted them to eliminate, by the time the infestation came around).
Last month, while we were doing some garden cleanup, we found a big female in the leaf litter and since we were due for frost we thought we'd bring her in and maybe give her an extra couple of months. She promptly blessed us with an ooth in her 10 gal tank (and another a month later), and we have 5 more of them outside, that I could find. I'm guessing there are dozens more in the wild-growing back part of our property.
Long story short, we adore "Murph" and I decided to get Russ a more exotic species for Christmas (and 2 flower mantids for myself...), and all three are so much fun that we are definitely getting more. My next species will be P. paradoxa and Russ really wants a big H. membranacea, and also a P. medioconstricta to mate with the one he got for Christmas, eventually (the new nymphs are L3 and 4). We both love the double shield, she has a ton of personality. C. pictipennis just recently molted to L3 and is no longer microscopic, yay!
I still need my reading glasses to see the P. virescens, though. So cool when a critter that can fit on your thumbnail turns its little head and sizes you up.
Anyway, I was really excited to find these forums. Looking forward to getting to know you all.
Last year I purchased 2 T. sinensis oothecae for my organic garden. My hubby Russ suddenly took waaaaay more interest in the garden and was telling people he was a 'mantis rancher'. Here in Tennessee we have PLENTY of bugs for them to eat so we were pleased to observe mantids all summer long in our garden (although they were too big to devour the cucumber beetles I really wanted them to eliminate, by the time the infestation came around).
Last month, while we were doing some garden cleanup, we found a big female in the leaf litter and since we were due for frost we thought we'd bring her in and maybe give her an extra couple of months. She promptly blessed us with an ooth in her 10 gal tank (and another a month later), and we have 5 more of them outside, that I could find. I'm guessing there are dozens more in the wild-growing back part of our property.
Long story short, we adore "Murph" and I decided to get Russ a more exotic species for Christmas (and 2 flower mantids for myself...), and all three are so much fun that we are definitely getting more. My next species will be P. paradoxa and Russ really wants a big H. membranacea, and also a P. medioconstricta to mate with the one he got for Christmas, eventually (the new nymphs are L3 and 4). We both love the double shield, she has a ton of personality. C. pictipennis just recently molted to L3 and is no longer microscopic, yay!
I still need my reading glasses to see the P. virescens, though. So cool when a critter that can fit on your thumbnail turns its little head and sizes you up.Anyway, I was really excited to find these forums. Looking forward to getting to know you all.
