Just excited

[vyadha]

Hi all

I work as a teacher at a homeschooling program. Luckily I get to use my personal hobbies as projects. 

I just got some L7 ghosts from a member here and the students immediately took to them. I have a few other insect colonies going but these guys stole the show. 

Its so cool to share this stuff!

 

[MantisGirl13]

Hi! That is a beautiful male ghost. Expect an adult molt very soon! last an introduction in the introduction section! Welcome to the forum!

- MantisGirl13

 

[minomantis]

That's awesome! I have 5 nephews (ages 6-11) who once they saw my female Hierodula majuscula, became OBSESSED with Mantids. So much so that their mother asks me for egg cases to raise them every year! Like MantiaGirl said, he will not very soon, so make sure he's not disturbed too much! Hope everything works out! Good luck!

 

[Graceface]

Yes, both of the males you got will be making their final molt soon. They will put off food for a couple of days beforehand. Just keep them hydrated and leave them alone, they will do their thing!

The females both molted recently to subadult. It'll probably be 4-6 weeks before they hit adulthood. 

I'm so glad the students are enjoying them!  

 

[vyadha]

Thanks! After this male was held we noticed that he was not interested in food, but the female was voracious. I received 4 from Graceface, 2 males, 2 females. I keep a pair at home and a pair in the classroom. 

Once we noticed how disinterested in food Frank was, we all decided to only observe and not handle.

Graceface sent me their hatch and molt dates. Can you share with me what you are noticing that makes it clear he'll be molting soon?

 

[Graceface]

In the photos, you can see his wing buds, a clear sign that a mantis is approaching its final molt. 

Sinclair molted recently to subadult, so I believe you have a while with him

 

[Mantis Lady]

It is so cool to tell kids about mantids and mantid care, I got lucky to do it a few times. I was camping and a I had mantids with me. And i was sitting with one on my hand and the kids came to me and started asking questions.

 

[RebelleSinner]

Kids and mantids are the best!

 

[MantisGirl13]

Like @Graceface said, the wingbuds are swollen, and if he is swatting away prey that is another sure sign.

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

I hate when recently molted mantises swat away food. Or they scent it / taste it (hand feeding esp), munch for a few seconds, and then seem to say "what?" and swat it away!

Usually the next day, they start to eat, but it seems to vary sp to sp. My thistle ate same night.  Some ghosts wont eat until the third day. 

Im sure my observations will change with time, but i'm seeing varying readiness for food after a molt sp to sp.

 

[Graceface]

@hysteresis I find Ghosts are very finicky about eating post molt, so I'd say those observations are accurate. Females tend to be hungry faster than males, in my experience. My males seem to take 2 days to eat after molting, females usually about a day

Orchids are another story. They are typically pretty hungry all the time, unless they are about to molt. Can't say I've ever seen one turn down a meal that wasn't about to molt. They also seem to want food soon after molting

It really does vary species to species

 

[hysteresis]

Orchids are another story.

Both girls have taken food post molt, but only one same day. 

The 2nd is still acting squirrely about it, but has eaten. Her abdomen isn't as fluffy as i'd like to see it. 

That bleph, man. She's savage! I presented a few hours post-molt and she hammered it and ate it all up!

 

[hysteresis]

But yes. Some have observed that mantises start to seek position and sway some right before a molt. I've seen it once in a Miomantis caffra, but I seem to be away when mine molt, so that's it so far. I read someone say something about them holding their raptorials out and to the side a bit right before. But, I have seen that in a lot of mantises day to day anyways. By "a lot" I mean within my tiny collection. 

 

[Graceface]

Both girls have taken food post molt, but only one same day. 

The 2nd is still acting squirrely about it, but has eaten. Her abdomen isn't as fluffy as i'd like to see it. 

Mine typically molt overnight and are hungry by the early afternoon, when I feed. I've had a few be more skittish for a week or two, but in general they are bottomless fly pits, stopping only to molt

To a fly, they are a terrifying beast to be avoided, but to me, my female orchids are sweet angels. If I were tiny, I'm sure I'd feel differently. Luckily, I am a giant compared to them. 

I love those beautiful monsters

 

[Jaywo]

Agree, most of my male ghost take about 2-4 days to eat after a molt. I had one that only ate the heads of each fly and discard the rest for about 2 weeks. It was a bit weird but they can be pretty finicky as previously stated.

 

[hysteresis]

And now to close out my hijack of this topic...

The fussy post-molt orchid struck down and ate up her BSFL.

 

[vyadha]

And now to close out my hijack of this topic...

The fussy post-molt orchid struck down and ate up her BSFL.

Lol I dont consider this a hijack...... The pics brought up a lot of stuff a noob Mantid caregiver, like me, is unaware of. And the info is extra important because that ghost did in fact molt last night. I woke up today and peeked to check on them and thought his antennae looked longer. Not to mention the molt on the bottom of his enclosure. Hes a gorgeous pale brown, like dry oak leaves, with a soft green pronotum. Im hoping the green stays for awhile. One antenna is a smidge longer and the last 1/8" of his wings are turned up. Im guessing this is from bumping into the top of his enclosure during inflation. Other than that he looks fantastic. 

All the info about waiting to feed them is really helpful. Ill post pics of him in a few hours, gonna let him rest before his modeling shoot.

 

[vyadha]

The photographer canceled so i had to go with my iPhone. Frank was cool with it but “Just this once”, he said. 

 

[MantisGirl13]

Gratz on the molt!!!! He is a beauty!

- MantisGirl13