Idolomantis diabolica adult female molt (Video)

[Precarious]

Took a while but here is the molt video as promised. Added some comparison footage at the end so you can see how extreme the colors became after the molt.

Idolos invariably pick the wrong spot to molt unless surrounded by branches so once she's out of the old skin you'll see I used a mesh curtain to give her something to grip in addition to the skin. All I did was cut a piece of mesh material, glued twigs to it to give it some weight and additional gripping surfaces, and attached office clips so I can clip it wherever needed. I've used it for nearly all the sub and adult molts with no incidence of falls.

Music by Precarious :walkman:

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Another in a long list of great videos. Very nice shade of green on her!

 

[Arwen9]

Wow.

That's quite a change. She's gorgeous!

 

[animalexplorer]

Wow! Awesome Henry! The video is incredible plus your suspended grip device is innovative. This is not only a cool video but very informative. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sporeworld]

Another home run! Great work.

 

[GreenOasis]

Dang...I should've posted earlier when I first watched the vid. I would've been the first to comment!

Ah well.

Great video! I had to wipe the drool off of my keyboard, though!

I have to wonder...do you sell CDs of your music? I love that sci-fi-techno sound! Made me feel like I was watching a sci-fi "Alien" movie!!

 

[Precarious]

I have to wonder...do you sell CDs of your music? I love that sci-fi-techno sound! Made me feel like I was watching a sci-fi "Alien" movie!!

Thanks! It's in the works but on the back burner for the time being. I kind of switched from music production to video to photopgraphy. Of course, it all becomes part of the same thing if I play my cards right.

 

[sporeworld]

Another note on the net thing. Since you have the twigs on there already, might want to just abandon the wide netting and go with corse cloth or burlap. I forgot how clumsy they are, and when I saw the feet going through the netting, I thought how funny it was that I was nervously watching a "precarious" molting BY Precarious!

Great work.

 

[Ricardo]

I have never seen a species I want more then this . . . Spectacular colors! I'll bet they're really expensive! And so massive. . . .biggest mantis you've had thus far precarious?

 

[Idolofreak]

Incredible!!! I love the "18 days later" part. The color difference just leaves me speechless.

 

[Precarious]

I have never seen a species I want more then this . . . Spectacular colors! I'll bet they're really expensive! And so massive. . . .biggest mantis you've had thus far precarious?

I think I paid around $10 for each L1 nymph which is reasonable for this species.

As far as size, my other mantids measure up like this...

Adult female Idolo: 4.5" long

Adult male Mega Mantis: 4" long (females get as big as 5" or 6")

Sub-adult female Heterochaeta: 5.25" long

So the Heterochaeta will be longer by far once adult, but, in my opinion, nothing looks quite as fearsome or beautiful as an Idolo. And honestly, what threat display can compare with theirs?

Here's a comparison shot with her next to an adult female Ghost (they've been hanging out all day):

 

[alicenwnderlnd]

absolutely stunning!! i am now green!

 

[Ricardo]

I think I paid around $10 for each L1 nymph which is reasonable for this species.

As far as size, my other mantids measure up like this...

Adult female Idolo: 4.5" long

Adult male Mega Mantis: 4" long (females get as big as 5" or 6")

Sub-adult female Heterochaeta: 5.25" long

So the Heterochaeta will be longer by far once adult, but, in my opinion, nothing looks quite as fearsome or beautiful as an Idolo. And honestly, what threat display can compare with theirs?

Here's a comparison shot with her next to an adult female Ghost (they've been hanging out all day):

10 dollars? Fantastic! And Heterochaeta are longer but very thin. I would say Idolo's are overall " Larger ".

I'm going to purchase some if I ever see them for sale on the site!

 

[Katnapper]

Fantastic video! I think your idea of adding the extra gripping surface after skin shed during the molting is a great idea. I really enjoyed this video.

But if we would have been able to see it without the music, I'm sure I saw (and we would have heard her) mumbling, "Enough with the video camera already!

No decency, I tell you... no decency!!"

:lol:

 

[Seattle79]