Hunter and Diego

[Mantis Lady]

2 Sphodromantis gastrica L6 couple arrived just now at home. They are both very cute. The male looks whitish with green under adomen. The female looks a bit like little Hunter, but light brown. I will  feed them and put them in their new homes. And will take some pics to show you the new members of my mantis family. I am happy with them.?

 

[Mantis Lady]

After feeding time and putting them in their new homes it was picture taking time

Time to show them: Hunter (named after little hunter)





Diego:

 

[Synapze]

They're beautiful! Congrats... I'm jealous! 

 

[MantisGirl13]

They really are pretty! Especially little Hunter. I love her eyes! Diego is very cute. 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

I didn't know what color they would have when I bought them. But I like their colors. But they looks very different than Flash. she is green.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Well, you sure got some pretty colors! 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

Diego was hungry:



The next pic is funny. On this one it looks like he has "Kermit the frog" eyes

 

[MantisGirl13]

@Little Mantis That is adorable! He is so cute! I love that pale green coloring on him. It almost looks white!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

He indeed looks more white. I dont know if he will stay like that. Somehow he has a funny face. But he actively goes after his prey like this afternoon. The cricket jumped down in his cup and Diego jumped down to catch it. Too bad I dont have a video of that.

Hunter can look very cute like here:

 

[MantisGirl13]

Aww! That is adorable! It is so fun to watch them hunt, I agree.  

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

Oh yeah, The Sphodromantis gastricas are more active hunters than Cochise

Hunter molted yesterday evening late and she had a good molt. and today she attacked her cricket if she had never eaten before. She fell of the lid and had to eat her dinner hanging outside her cup.

Diego wasn't interested in something to eat. Think he is preparing for his molt. But he is still fast

 

[MantisGirl13]

Yay, Hunter! She is so pretty!  It is so funny how some species are so aggressive after molts, while others won't touch prey for days!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

Diego molted last night. Bute the evening before his molt he ate. He hunted the cricket himself.  This is really surprising me. Maybe he needed some energy for his molt. I dont don't know.

For now I will leave him alone for his skin to harden. and will have a good look at him later this evening.

 

[MantisGirl13]

My Sphodromantis gastricas will eat even the day of the molt! They are seriously aggressive hunters!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

They both surprised me whit their molts. If it doesn't give problems and they have good molts. I am OK with it.?

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Diego molted last night. Bute the evening before his molt he ate. He hunted the cricket himself.  This is really surprising me. Maybe he needed some energy for his molt. I dont don't know.

Not all mantises stop eating before molting, I've had some hunt prey just hours before they molted. 

 

[Mantis Lady]

I have read all mantids did that, but this species not it seems

Not all mantises stop eating before molting, I've had some hunt prey just hours before they molted. 

I still keep learning new things about our favo insects.?

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Certain species may have a tendency to stop or not stop eating for a molt but it's not a hardfast rule. It's not so much a particular species that does or doesn't but individual mantises...and not every time. So one mantis might stop eating for one molt but keep hunting right up until the next one. Another mantis of that same species may always stop eating to prepare for their molt while some other mantis never does. As for why...I don't know. It could be as you suggested, that they need a boost of energy right before a molt or maybe the mantis just didn't get the signal it was going to molt until it did.

 

[Mantis Lady]

Cochise was acting meh when she was close to molt and didn't wanted to eat. Then I knew to let her be. But with Hunter and Diego I will never know