How many clerks does it take to sell a praying mantis? (pic)

[Ecooper]

A friend of mine mentioned to me on Saturday that he had seen a praying mantis for sale at a local pet shop. I’ve been meaning to get some mantids to photograph for some time, but they are very rarely offered for sale around Vancouver. So I dropped by the pet shop yesterday to take a look. Sure enough they had a nice big, green mantid for sale. Not surprisingly I didn’t recognize the species. So I went up to the clerk to get some information about the animal and its care. To make a long story short, they had absolutely no idea what species it was or where it came from. The best they could do was say was that it was imported from the USA. Unbelievable! I posted the entire, somewhat bizarre conversation on my blog, along with a couple more photos.

I took the photos using a white box made from foam core, illuminated with a single flash.

I suspect that this little beast is a giant Asian mantis, Hierodula membranacea. If someone could help with the identification, I’d really appreciate it.

Oh, and the answer to my question is four. It took four clerks to sell me this mantid.

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

mantid copyright ernie cooper 2012_filtered by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

 

[Ntsees]

It's a European mantid (Mantis religiosa). They have an "eye" spot at the base of each fore-arm (you can see it slightly from the pic).

 

[Mime454]

Mantis religiosa like the above poster said. Great photo, by the way!

 

[twolfe]

Nice photo. Your story about the pet store and clerks is both funny and sad at the same time.

 

[SilentDeviL]

Will .. not sure how they are able to sell Mantid in B.C specially in a store lol ... My understanding is not allowed in Canada at all... That's why is so hard to get mantis in Canada and the Price is very expansive .... Ya for sure is not H.M , Thx for the White Box Idea .. maybe next time I can give it a try taking shot in the white Box ..

 

[Rick]

What you experienced seems about typical for many pet stores, especially the chain stores.

 

[Ecooper]

It's a European mantid (Mantis religiosa). They have an "eye" spot at the base of each fore-arm (you can see it slightly from the pic).

Mantis religiosa like the above poster said. Great photo, by the way!

Thanks! I've had a couple of other people (not on this forum) tell me that it is a specimen of Hierodula membranacea. I'd like to respond and explain why it is definitely Mantis religiosa. Is the presence of eyepots the most defining characteristic?

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Ecooper]

Nice photo. Your story about the pet store and clerks is both funny and sad at the same time.

Thanks. I completely agree...

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Mime454]

Thanks! I've had a couple of other people (not on this forum) tell me that it is a specimen of Hierodula membranacea. I'd like to respond and explain why it is definitely Mantis religiosa. Is the presence of eyepots the most defining characteristic?

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

That is the main feature, yes. Also the fact that it was imported from the USA. Religiosa is present in the US in the wild.

 

[Ecooper]

Will .. not sure how they are able to sell Mantid in B.C specially in a store lol ... My understanding is not allowed in Canada at all... That's why is so hard to get mantis in Canada and the Price is very expansive .... Ya for sure is not H.M , Thx for the White Box Idea .. maybe next time I can give it a try taking shot in the white Box ..

That isn't exactly correct, although a lot of people seem to think that mantids are illegal. It is illegal to import mantids without the appropriate Agriculture Canada permits. There are no restrictions on possesion of a mantid in Canada if it was legally acquired. In the case of Mantis religiosa, they have been introduced to Canada already, which makes possesion of this species even less of an issue.

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[mantid_mike]

You should shoot more mantids with the same set-up. That pic turned out awesome.

 

[Ecooper]

You should shoot more mantids with the same set-up. That pic turned out awesome.

Thanks! I'd love to shoot more mantids when I can get my hands on them!

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[aNisip]

Nice manis and picture! And now with this knowledge you can go edjumacate those clerks...!

 

[Emile.Wilson]

I live in vancouver as well, which pet store sold you it?