I followed though with the hatching of an ooth and released about 150 nymphs throughout the neighbor hood. I have 2 half way to maturity in the bushes in the front of our house. My question is......can I or should I capture these 2 and house them indoors for the winter and release in the late spring.
Keeping an outdoor mantis indoors for the winter
- Thread starter bugmeso
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Sticky
Well-known member
Go for it! When they mature, breed them and release thier babies.
That'd be just fine, you'd help them to live longer.
And like Sticky said, if you have two of the opposite sex, you could breed them and release the nymphs which would help out too. But even if you didn't do that you would still be extending their lifespan.
furrymanmarbles
Well-known member
They would be fine.that's actually how I got started with mantids.I found one twitching from the cold next to my front door so I took her in and fed her every bug I could find.she was fully grown and still lasted another 8 months in captivity with me and had no problems with being held either.
I was able to capture one of the Mantis I had released. Don't if it's a male or female yet. It's been 3 weeks and I have it setup in a habitat that I hatched the nymphs in. I have feed it crickets and wingless flies but thought I would try something different. I ordered something called Fly Pupae. But when it came...that's where I get really confused. It look's like little balls of poop. Am I supposed to do something as in breeding the Fly Pupae also?
soundspawn
Well-known member
Pupae eventually come out as flies. You should check for specifics from the place you got them, but generally you throw the bulk in the fridge, and put maybe 4-5 in the habitat. After a few days they should break out of the pupae exoskeleton and start flying around in there.
Do you know what specie fly? Blue bottle, green bottle, hydei, etc?
Do you know what specie fly? Blue bottle, green bottle, hydei, etc?
I believe they are Blue Fly. I was not able to print a receipt but looked the site I ordered from. I looked at so many, I somewhat forgot which one I ordered. So they keep well and for awhile in the fridge....gotcha. Thanks
Thanks
dlemmings
Well-known member
keep it indoors and enjoy...they will warm up to you and actually like being on a plant indoors and don't mind being held. well I have not had a problem with wild caught mantids at least.
you likely bought blue bottle fly pupa and if let sit at room temp they will all hatch very close together in time.
I have had success keeping a few (a weeks worth) at room temp and refrigerating the rest of the pupa. the pupa wont hatch as fast when refrigerated but at a point the hatch rates decline and you have to set more out to keep up with feeding.
a wild caught can easily eat 5-7 flies a day, but can also go a week without eating (but why starve them)
another option is a local pet store (pet smart etc.) that sells crickets.
I have not tried but have seen video posts of people hanging a white sheet and shining a very bright light on it to collect moths and other insects (FOOD)
you likely bought blue bottle fly pupa and if let sit at room temp they will all hatch very close together in time.
I have had success keeping a few (a weeks worth) at room temp and refrigerating the rest of the pupa. the pupa wont hatch as fast when refrigerated but at a point the hatch rates decline and you have to set more out to keep up with feeding.
a wild caught can easily eat 5-7 flies a day, but can also go a week without eating (but why starve them)
another option is a local pet store (pet smart etc.) that sells crickets.
I have not tried but have seen video posts of people hanging a white sheet and shining a very bright light on it to collect moths and other insects (FOOD)
LAME
Tenodera sinensis (the one and only)
Most my mantids were wild caught, I've had no issues with any of them, and like mantiscurious said it'll warm up to you eventually. My T. Sin loves being out and about.
best way I've found for catching moths, honestly... Just wait until dark and turn your outside lights on, they'll come. I just use a coffee jar and throw em in it. Easy food to catch compared to chasing fly's or grasshoppers
best way I've found for catching moths, honestly... Just wait until dark and turn your outside lights on, they'll come. I just use a coffee jar and throw em in it. Easy food to catch compared to chasing fly's or grasshoppers
soundspawn
Well-known member
It does, make sure there are no large feeders like crickets in his habitat (they like to cause problems when mantids molt), and give him a few days without food. If he goes 3-4 days then he's just being weird and try to feed him, but I bet he'll molt instead.
