Instar Question...

[Joe Caruso]

This is probably going to sound like a really stupid question, but if a mantis is advertised for sale as "3rd/4th" instar, does this mean that it's between it's 3rd and 4th molting, or that the supplier isn't sure but knows it's either the 3rd or 4th?

I assume it's the former, but just wanted to be sure.

 

[mrblue]

the way i read it is that it's the latter, kind of. mantids can grow at different rates, some may be a bit ahead, some may be a bit behind. even if theyre all from one ootheca, there are times when some will be an instar ahead, or behind. so i guess thats what people mean by "L3/4", it's deffinitely not the former.

 

[Joe Caruso]

I know each species is different, but roughly how man instars do Mantids pass through before reaching maturity?

 

[mrblue]

the search function is your friend! or even just a quick scroll down the topics, this was was from just over a week ago

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10972