ID a mantid found in china

[Fisherman_Brazil]

This is very common here in Taiwan, often come to my office or class during my lecturing or tea break without notice. Last year I keep 5 female adult and two male adult, but still fail to breed due to the paracite problem. Would give it another try later this year.

 

[colddigger]

So the horse hair worm gets in through mosquito larva? Well that's just great, that's exactly what I've been feeding my mantids when I couldn't get flies... are these worms common in the Washington state? :shock: Cause that would suck.

 

[colddigger]

Or is it just mosquitos? If so then that would be a relief...

 

[Fisherman_Brazil]

not quite sure if mosquito will do anything to the horsehair, but definitely all evidences point to the larva of dragonfly here in Taiwan.

 

[AFK]

@ bruity2fruity:The mantids are often infested as larvae and usually become adult without problems. I do not remember if they are sterile, but I think so. The mantid lives relatively normal until the worm is to leave it.

@ Rick: there are about 300 species throughout the world, mostly in the tropics, but also in temperate regions. Not all species live in mantids. In southern Europe there is one species parasiting M. religiosa, in N-America grasshoppers are the most abundant hosts. Mantids are most affected in the paleotropics.

Regards,

Christian

Christian, do you know how/why the host dies when the worm leaves into the water?

 

[Christian]

Hi.

It usually drowns or is eaten by some fish. I am not sure how severe the injuries caused by the worm are, I suppose that the host will nevertheless die later, even if it manages to get out of the water.

Regards,

Christian

 

[OGIGA]

Speaking of mantises dying, I never heard of a mantis that lived forever.

 

[captainmerkin]

Speaking of mantises dying, I never heard of a mantis that lived forever.

lots of the mantis from the zoo I work at are getting a little old, a few have passed on recently

unfortunately the oldest freegate beetle (9year old) is also on its way out

shame they don't live at least 2 years happily before dying.

 

[AFK]

Hi.It usually drowns or is eaten by some fish. I am not sure how severe the injuries caused by the worm are, I suppose that the host will nevertheless die later, even if it manages to get out of the water.

Regards,

Christian

okay, so the worm doesn't actually kill the mantis when it leaves the body, but the mantis is nonetheless very vulnerable in the water to be eaten or drowned.

 

[captainmerkin]

now I have had a chance at looking I'd say it is a Heridula of some sorts. has white spots on the wing case..

but a little different neck dressing I think