how many molts for carolina?

[charleyandbecky]

Hi all...just checking on something for my little carolina babies.

Like I've said before, I've kept carolinas many times but only as adults. How many molts do they usually go through? I have some at L4 and L5 now and they still seem so tiny. Their mother was about 1 1/2 inches long but they are very little.

Thanks!

Rebecca

 

[JoeCapricorn]

Not sure for certain for Carolina, I think 8 or 9... my Giant Asian mantises are 3/4ths of an inch and quite skinny at L4, yet they'll probably be about 4 inches as adults regardless of gender. I think the last couple of molts the mantis grows a lot more than in the first few molts.

 

[yen_saw]

Hi all...just checking on something for my little carolina babies.Like I've said before, I've kept carolinas many times but only as adults. How many molts do they usually go through? I have some at L4 and L5 now and they still seem so tiny. Their mother was about 1 1/2 inches long but they are very little.

Thanks!

Rebecca

Carolina mantis usually only goes through 6 molts. When you see large wingbud (especially overlapping) it is at subadult stage. The Carolina mantis from the northern states is typically smaller (less than 5 cm). There is a good journal on this species written by Phil Rau and Nelle Rau. (The biology of Stagmomantis carolina. Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of St. Louis 22: 1958.). This is the bible for S. carolina and it is now a classic that was way ahead their time.Edit: Sorry i just noticed that you are from Georgia.... the Carolina mantis from Southern states do reach 6 cm.

 

[charleyandbecky]

Carolina mantis usually only goes through 6 molts. When you see large wingbud (especially overlapping) it is at subadult stage. The Carolina mantis from the northern states is typically smaller (less than 5 cm). There is a good journal on this species written by Phil Rau and Nelle Rau. (The biology of Stagmomantis carolina. Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of St. Louis 22: 1958.). This is the bible for S. carolina and it is now a classic that was way ahead their time.Edit: Sorry i just noticed that you are from Georgia.... the Carolina mantis from Southern states do reach 6 cm.

Thank you to both of you for your replies. Maybe they will grow substantially in the next couple of molts. They just seem very little. No matter, though...they are so fun to watch!

Rebecca