How long to wait for hatching?

[Ramona]

I hope this is the correct place to post this question. I have a few ooth that I was given last summer and I kept them in the refrigerator until about 6 weeks ago. They have been near a heat source for about 5 weeks- with occasional spraying. How long should I have to wait for the hatching- maximum. Oh-- forgot to say, my sister-in-law collected them in West Virginia -- so all wild collected. Thanks for any advise.

Ramona

 

[Extrememantid]

They might not hatch.. They may just be duds.. Go for one more month at the max? What species?

 

[Pizzaparlor45]

It depends on the species, some hatch in only a few weeks while some require an over wintering period. If it is a Chinese or stagmomantis sp, then it its better to give up on it now, if it is a European mantis, then keep incubating for at least another 2-3 weeks. Hope this helps.

 

[Extrememantid]

It depends on the species, some hatch in only a few weeks while some require an over wintering period. If it is a Chinese or stagmomantis sp, then it its better to give up on it now, if it is a European mantis, then keep incubating for at least another 2-3 weeks. Hope this helps.

What's the difference for a European mantis, they hatch in the spring too.. She said it's wild caught so it's one of the three species which all hatch in the spring.

 

[Lannister]

Its doubtful they are infertile. Definitely don't give up on them. Give it another two weeks. It's never wise to give up on an ootheca unless its just been way too long or it starts to smell like rot, so I would still keep them around even beyond two weeks, just with much fewer hopes. If they don't end up hatching, it was probably the fridge that did them in.