Idolomantis/Metallyticus/Eremiaphila/etc.

[danl82]

Those metallyticus are stunning. Hopefully you'll get some ooths from them.

 

[hcarlton]

Another species on the eventual want list; who cares if it's small, when it looks that cool it's worth looking into

 

[Velve]

All but two M. splendidus are adult now. I managed to get a decent comparison between a fully colored female and one that molted a day ago.

I also attempted to film a female a bit. They are less hyperactive than the males, but my camera still has a hard time capturing them.



The Eremiaphila offspring is doing great. One male was a very fast grower and has already reached adulthood. He is so small though that I think he might have skipped a molt for some reason. Two females of the previous generation are also still alive.

 

[Mantis Lady]

Ate this little guy the whole  grasshopper?  His dinner  looks bigger than the mantis. (his eyes are so cute)

 

[Velve]

Ate this little guy the whole  grasshopper?  His dinner  looks bigger than the mantis. (his eyes are so cute)

Yeah, they can eat ridiculous amounts of food until they are fully sated.

 

[hcarlton]

Voracious little things...I find it amusing the one photo where he's so hungry he doesn't even care that he's practically upside down.

 

[Velve]

All the M. splendidus males are dead by now, the tank has gotten very calm again.  Matings occurred, so hopefully something hatches out of the ooths. Apparently the incubation time can be over three months, it'll be a while until I potentially see success.

The next generation of Eremiaphila is all grown-up and ready to mate again. Such a fast life cycle.

Also trying out Acontista sp., a tiny species whose nymphs mimick ants. They are capable of parthenogenesis, on which I'll have to rely on for offspring since I didn't get any males. I hope it works out, they are pretty and active little mantids.

Heterochaeta orientalis

Plistospilota guineensis

 

[MantisGirl13]

Wow! You still have quite the collection! I really want to get Eremiaphla. Your H. orientalis is beautiful. You were wrong about one thing, though! Your Mettalycus tank does not look very calm to me!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

This threat pose is making her more cute then ever :

This one looks cute too:

 

[MantisGirl13]

They are adorable.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Velve]

Freshly hatched M. splendidus after an incubation time of 100 days.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Ooh, wow! So tiny! I am jealous!

- MantisGirl13

 

[bugboymark]

Incredible photos...of some really unique species.  With their mimicry, I'm seeing - ants, tiger beetles, small cricket/grasshoppers...with extra personality.  Really surprised how small the nymphs are for the M. splendidus.  Are they aggressive enough to tackle ffs at that stage? 

Regardless, keep the photos coming if possible. Good stuff.

 

[Mantis Lady]

What a size difference between the nymph and the adult. Cool

 

[danl82]

Congratulations on the metallyticus hatch. Not something many have achieved. 

 

[hysteresis]

This whole post 

 

[Jaywo]

These are amazing pictures and subjects alike. I hope you have some productive and fertile ooths.

 

[cwebster]

Great detail!

 

[Cole 78]

@Velve how do you get the black background for your pics? I mostly use plain white, but wanted to try something else.

 

[Velve]

The first ooth fully hatched over three days, giving me 14 live nymphs, a decent number for this species.

Incredible photos...of some really unique species.  With their mimicry, I'm seeing - ants, tiger beetles, small cricket/grasshoppers...with extra personality.  Really surprised how small the nymphs are for the M. splendidus.  Are they aggressive enough to tackle ffs at that stage?

They eat springtails until L3. From then on firebrats are their main source of food. The species doesn't accept flies too well, flat food like firebrats and roaches work great and conveniently run towards the dark hiding spots where the M. splendidus wait for them.

Here's a comparison between a L1 and a dead D. melanogaster. They are too big for the frail nymphs.

@Velve how do you get the black background for your pics? I mostly use plain white, but wanted to try something else.

That's caused by my camera's flash. I don't have any setup for photos.