Huge absence/general questions

[Nicolas]

I don't know much about stink bugs other than they stink an are a real problem for farmers in the the Southern states. I know less about milkweed bugs. I've read recently that mantids like mealworm beetles, which are super easy to propagate and some mantids will even eat the larvae. I grow a lot in a very small mealworm "farm" and I only started it with less than fifty worms and the cheapest oatmeal I could find.

I've always wondered if household roaches were safe to feed since chemicals are used to control their population. Many sprays are advertised as "long lasting protection". I've never fed one to my mantids, but I'm always tempted when I see one scurry around. ? Unfortunately, I live in Florida so roach control is necessary even in the cleanest of households.  

Never worry about asking too many questions here! There are so many kind people who are more than happy to help. ?

Yeah, if my Black Widows won't take milkweed bugs, I feel like mantids wouldn't either. Assuming that they eat similar things or have similar taste buds Anyway, would you feed your large mantids cicadas? 

Edit: Upon further research, it seems to be because of Milkweed bugs feeding on milkweeds that make them gross to predators. Durrrrrrrr. I should've realized that, it was so obvious! 

 

[Synapze]

Anyway, would you feed your large mantids cicadas? 

I've never had the opportunity to try a cicada before. I did a quick scan and read they can be 1-2" long. I'd feed a 1",  but probably not the 2". When my largest Hierodula reaches full size I'd feel comfortable. 

On a similar note, I ran across one of those "Mantis vs. _____” videos, which I kinda dislike, where someone fed a large wasp/hornet to a  rather beautiful mantis. The mantis grabs the wasp, there's a brief struggle, then the mantis unfurls it's beautiful wings... as the wasp begins devouring it's head. ?

 

[Nicolas]

I've never had the opportunity to try a cicada before. I did a quick scan and read they can be 1-2" long. I'd feed a 1",  but probably not the 2". When my largest Hierodula reaches full size I'd feel comfortable. 

On a similar note, I ran across one of those "Mantis vs. _____” videos, which I kinda dislike, where someone fed a large wasp/hornet to a  rather beautiful mantis. The mantis grabs the wasp, there's a brief struggle, then the mantis unfurls it's beautiful wings... as the wasp begins devouring it's head. ?

Ahaha, I wouldn't feed a cicada to your mantis anyway. Not because cicadas pose a threat or anything to the mantis, they'd gladly take it, but the issue lies in the really annoying clicking noise the cicada will absolutely not stop making until the mantis eventually eats the gland or whatever that produces the noise! I've fed my Heirodula a cicada before and that was the most annoying thing I've ever experienced

As for wasps, are you sure it was a wasp or a hornet? Typically, mantids (at least, larger ones) take down wasps no problem. Hornets (typically the giant asian hornet) pose a significant issue for mantids - that being said, I've seen videos on youtube of Chinese mantids devouring the asian giant hornets, but I'd still never in a million years offer a hornet to a mantis even if I wasn't a huge scardey cat of hornets. As far as mantids versus hornets go, I think it's a coinflip as to which insect wins. Only the ridiculously large mantids would stand a chance, though.

Speaking of ridiculously large mantids, what do you think is more ferocious - a chinese mantis, or any heirodulas? 

 

[Synapze]

Speaking of ridiculously large mantids, what do you think is more ferocious - a chinese mantis, or any heirodulas? 

In my collection, I'd have to say my oldest Chinese. He's brutal. ?

My African Lined mantis will probably take the crown once he's larger. He's very aggressive and has strange eating behaviors. First he chases prey down and begins eating. He'll then see another fly, drop the one he's eating and run over and injure/kill the other. Sometimes he stands over them and stabs them repeatedly with his raptors. Then he'll return to the one he was eating and finish it off before finishing his second kill. He's even done this with a 3 fly meal. There are also times when he just kills and doesn't eat. I have no other mantids that display this behavior. It's fun to watch, but I hate wasting blue bottle flies. Other than that he's quite friendly. 

 

[Nicolas]

In my collection, I'd have to say my oldest Chinese. He's brutal. ?

My African Lined mantis will probably take the crown once he's larger. He's very aggressive and has strange eating behaviors. First he chases prey down and begins eating. He'll then see another fly, drop the one he's eating and run over and injure/kill the other. Sometimes he stands over them and stabs them repeatedly with his raptors. Then he'll return to the one he was eating and finish it off before finishing his second kill. He's even done this with a 3 fly meal. There are also times when he just kills and doesn't eat. I have no other mantids that display this behavior. It's fun to watch, but I hate wasting blue bottle flies. Other than that he's quite friendly. 

Back from work! Anywho, that's quite strange behavior... also, male chinese mantids? My male mantids tend to just cease all aggressive behavior after becoming adults pretty much. Oh also, you might know this, but I didn't choose the express shipping method when purchasing my two chinese mantids - have you ever had issues with non live arrival guarantee shipping options? I haven't in the past. 

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Oh also, you might know this, but I didn't choose the express shipping method when purchasing my two chinese mantids - have you ever had issues with non live arrival guarantee shipping options? I haven't in the past. 

I almost always choose Priority Shipping over Express...not because of the price but because Express packages always look beaten up or crushed when they arrive and Priority packages are always in perfect condition.

I've never had a problem with a mantis dying en route when using Priority but have had casualties with Express. The seller promised to replace them which is fine and all but it just seems like a waste of life to me.

 

[Nicolas]

I almost always choose Priority Shipping over Express...not because of the price but because Express packages always look beaten up or crushed when they arrive and Priority packages are always in perfect condition.

I've never had a problem with a mantis dying en route when using Priority but have had casualties with Express. The seller promised to replace them which is fine and all but it just seems like a waste of life to me.

How long did it take for them to arrive?

In my example, I placed the order and paid yesterday. 

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Priority always takes 2 days for me but I live in a major city. Usually a seller ships on the next business day from Monday thru Wednesday but some will ship on Thursdays if the package is scheduled to arrive by Saturday. They generally try to avoid the mantis getting stuck in the mail an extra day by not shipping over the weekend. Patty at Mantids Galore is good about shipping on the next business day Monday -Thursday so if you ordered yesterday the package will be shipped on Monday and will probably arrive on Wednesday. When it's shipped she will send you a tracking number that will tell you every time the package has been scanned (when it leaves or arrives at a new destination) in real time as well as the expected delivery date. You can even enable email and text notifications for the package on the USPS.com website so that you know exactly when the package has been delivered. Enabling notifications is so so important if you live in an area where it gets really hot during the day like I do, it lets you know when to go outside to get the package and your mantises don't have to sit outside in the heat. 

In some rare occasions a package may take 3 days to arrive, but even then a mantis should be ok. Most sellers will feed a mantis before shipping and/or include a prey item in the container with them to eat along the way. 

 

[MantisGirl13]

Milkweed has toxic chemicals that most insects cannot take. Mantids can be poisoned by feeding them an insect that eats milkweed. Mantids don't like stink bugs because they taste bad. Cicadas would make good prey, but they would be very loud!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Nicolas]

Milkweed has toxic chemicals that most insects cannot take. Mantids can be poisoned by feeding them an insect that eats milkweed. Mantids don't like stink bugs because they taste bad. Cicadas would make good prey, but they would be very loud!

- MantisGirl13

I see, thanks!

If you don't mind me asking, what type of insects would you feed an L3 nymph if you had to wild catch insects for them?

Also, are assassin bugs/spiderlings good food for them? There's a lot of small spiders I encounter here that can potentially be good food. Small spiders have absolutely no chance in heck of biting a mantis as far as I know. 

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Ideally you'll want bugs that are not predators themselves. Flies, moths and butterflies are a good choice. Grasshoppers will work too but make sure the grass you get them from hasn't been treated with pesticides. Some types of caterpillars may also be ok but make sure you positively identify them first so you know they don't have some sort of defense mechanism that could hurt your mantis. Some taste bad, some are toxic to other insects or they could have stinging hairs.

Assassin bugs are a very bad idea, not only can they bite humans but they can probably kill a mantis quite easily...there is a reason they are named assassin bugs. They grab prey and repeatedly stab it to death then suck the fluids out. 

Probably want to stay away from spiders too. I believe they all have venom but not all of it is harmful to humans or they are not able to inject it into a human so we see them as "harmless" but spider venom is meant to kill insects. I wouldn't chance that even a small spider couldn't bite a mantis back.

Any insect that smells strongly is probably a bad idea too, this is usually some sort of defense mechanism and your mantis probably won't want to eat it anyway.

 

[MantisGirl13]

I see, thanks!

If you don't mind me asking, what type of insects would you feed an L3 nymph if you had to wild catch insects for them?

Also, are assassin bugs/spiderlings good food for them? There's a lot of small spiders I encounter here that can potentially be good food. Small spiders have absolutely no chance in heck of biting a mantis as far as I know. 

Moths and flies are great prey, and very easy to find. I don't know about spiders, but DEFINITELY NOT assasin bugs!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Nicolas]

Moths and flies are great prey, and very easy to find. I don't know about spiders, but DEFINITELY NOT assasin bugs!

- MantisGirl13

Are you sure? I've seen videos of Orchid Mantids eating those assassin bugs like no tomorrow. 

 

[Predatorhousepet]

In the video I think you are referring to the mantis was significantly bigger than the assassin bug and immediately caught it the second it was dropped in....which is why the mantis won that battle. But what if the mantis hadn't immediately grabbed it or grabbed it badly so that the assassin bug still had some freedom of movement? I think it's best to stay away from feeding any live predatory insects. Sometimes it only takes a small injury to do a mantis in. However, if you behead the assassin bug first that would solve any issues with it fighting back. Not all mantises will accept killed prey outright so you'd have to squeeze out some of the guts and hold it up to to the mantis's mouth so it can taste the goo. Once it realizes it tastes good it will start eating and eventually take it from you.

 

[Nicolas]

In the video I think you are referring to the mantis was significantly bigger than the assassin bug and immediately caught it the second it was dropped in....which is why the mantis won that battle. But what if the mantis hadn't immediately grabbed it or grabbed it badly so that the assassin bug still had some freedom of movement? I think it's best to stay away from feeding any live predatory insects. Sometimes it only takes a small injury to do a mantis in. However, if you behead the assassin bug first that would solve any issues with it fighting back. Not all mantises will accept killed prey outright so you'd have to squeeze out some of the guts and hold it up to to the mantis's mouth so it can taste the goo. Once it realizes it tastes good it will start eating and eventually take it from you.

Well yeah, I make those questions based on the largest most aggressive species versus insects like the Assassin Bug. When I envisioned the fight, I mostly thought of a large mantis that is very hungry that could just chomp up an assassin bug within seconds. If not that, they'd probably severely injure the bug with how large their raptor claws are and how much strength they have. Same with the question about scorpions in the other thread.