how to identify which instar?

[ahoystetson]

Hi everyone!!

a bit of backstory here: for a while I had only two Mios who are adult females, but I showed up to church one morning and a 9-year-old girl had brought me a Stagmomantis carolina nymph in a mason jar!! she caught one to bring to me because she knew how much I liked them. sometimes people can be so sweet. and yes, I have moved him into a larger habitat than that little jar, haha.

Anyway, since he was found in the wild, I have no idea how old he is. I live in Georgia, USA, so I believe it to be a carolina mantis, and I think I counted seven or eight abdomen segments. he's brown with green legs, and about 2.5 inches long from end to end. I think I see little wing buds forming, but I'm new at this so I can't be sure!

EDIT: oh I forgot to mention! I got him almost exactly a month ago, and he molted 3 days after I got him, but not since then. he's been eating steadily, including today, so I can't tell when his next molt will be.

Is there a website or something that ID's different life stages of mantids, maybe? or is there some way I might be able to figure it out myself? I've googled it but didn't find a real answer...

Thank you! P.S., if this is in the wrong forum, please let me know.

 

[ImTheBugFreak]

Hi,

Sounds like a Sub-Adult to me but I'm fairly new to this as well :lol:

I know once you see wings its full grown. Other than that I don't think you can tell unless you raised it from a nymph.

Hope this help

 

[lancaster1313]

I agree that it sounds like a subadult, by the size and possible wingbuds. By your location, color and segment count description, it is most likely a Stagmomantis carolina male, a female will have a wide abdomen at that stage. Do you have a pic? Even though you gave a great description.

 

[gripen]

+1 to the above post.

 

[ahoystetson]

@Bio: I appreciate the help! I guess after his next molt, I'll know for sure

@likebugs: great to know! I can try to put a picture up tomorrow. I do have a photo, but it was the day I got him & thus before his last molt, so it's not very accurate.

I might need advice about molts too, because I have him in a critter cage and I read that they were dangerous for molting? his previous molt was in the same cage and it went very smoothly, but that's not to say that something couldn't go wrong this time.

Again, thank you all for the help

 

[lancaster1313]

@Bio: I appreciate the help! I guess after his next molt, I'll know for sure

@likebugs: great to know! I can try to put a picture up tomorrow. I do have a photo, but it was the day I got him & thus before his last molt, so it's not very accurate.

I might need advice about molts too, because I have him in a critter cage and I read that they were dangerous for molting? his previous molt was in the same cage and it went very smoothly, but that's not to say that something couldn't go wrong this time.

Again, thank you all for the help

You could do modifications to the critter keeper that will make it work. Textured gripping surfaces and space for molting are the 2 biggies. I have used pieces of screen that were secured by closing the lid on it, false plant pieces, and sticks that are of a size that can be secure(not able to fall over) when inside the container.

Precarious made a great topic that shows some great container designs that are simple and inexpensive. It is titled: Enclosures and Housing: The Basics. http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=22473

 

[ahoystetson]

hi there, I'm sorry it took me over a week to reply again! school has been keeping me busy... I don't mean to bring back a dead thread, but I thought it would be rude if I just left everyone hanging, haha.

you all were right, he was a subadult male! He molted a few days after this thread was created, and he's quite handsome, about 3 inches long. I'll update w/a photo tomorrow! and he chose the most hard-to-reach leaf in the back of the enclosure to molt from... sigh. but it went very smoothly, thankfully.

well, mystery solved... P.S.: likebugs, I'll definitely use that thread for future reference!

 

[minard734]

2.5 inches seems a little exaggerated for a subadult male carolina mantid...

 

[aomantids]

2.5 inches seems a little exaggerated for a subadult male carolina mantid...

Agreed. And 3" seems too long for an adult Carolina male. Could this be a European (Religiosa)?

It would be good to see pics.