largest commonly available sp.

[Orin]

Looks like you're cheating with that idolo shot by placing it closer to the camera in all the photos. The shadow is disproportionately larger. :shifty:

 

[brancsikia339]

True, but the $12 Idolo you bought weren't bred(cb) and cared for by me, lol. Sometimes you get what you pay for, and you do need practice to raise these from babies and get ooths that hatch, soon very soon...4 sale?

THEY'RE NOT THAT HARD PEOPLE!!! really I swear. {raspberries fly}

They aren't that hard to raise, but mating and getting them on time for that? Different story

 

[angelofdeathzz]

That's what I've been saying all along, but talk to the hand...

 

[jrh3]

I like S. lineola, very powerful.

 

[Fishe]

My favorite is rhombodera valida, big and still bulky. Also not a plain mantis, still has that shield that makes it unique. Are these in culture?

 

[jrh3]

Yes A Few Are.

 

[Mirk]

Looks like you're cheating with that idolo shot by placing it closer to the camera in all the photos. The shadow is disproportionately larger. :shifty:

Yeah I'll admit the pics aren't perfect, sorry... If the Idolo is looking straight forward, keeping her head perpendicular to her body, then the 2 are about the same length, head to bum, give or take a few mm. But the Idolos appear much larger and bulkier, regardless... imo. The 2nd female did recently molt. And she is maybe 1/8-1/4 in. longer then her sis, maybe a little more. Hoped she would top 4 inches but I think she is a coming up just a bit short. Anyway, I took some more pics of them on my bed with a tape measure and grid pattern of the comforter for reference.

^mantids from my previous post. Idolo was not diggin on the tape measure, so if you wanna get an accurate guesstimate(i like a good oxymoron) for her you'll need a straight edge and maybe a calculator. Based on the picture she came out like 3.6 in. for me. But in real life she looks closer to 3.75... Also you get a free pic with my peg legged boxer Zeus.

^ The fresh girl with the H. Mem, and well this Idolo didn't care much for standing on the bed so I didn't get many pics of her. Taking pics with both mantis equal distances was also not so easy. And sorry if my messy room offends. I just got back from some schooling in Wyoming on solar installation and sales. Although my room is not much cleaner any other day of the week...

Also sorry if I got a little off topic. I just had to defend my "awesome" photo skills ... and I wasn't trying to cheat the pictures. I only do that with my "trophy" catches when I am fishing.

And back on topic, I like rhombodera sp. They seem like one of the more bulky large mantis. Also how does Deroplatys Dessicata size up to these guys? They seem to be praised as a 4 inch mantis, and a fairly sturdy hunter(I want some, but I am poor, and need Idolos more ). And yeah I know most of these may not be in the culture all the time, but really there is like only 5-6 genus that seem to be available in the U.S. at any given time, all the time. Well... other than native species. But at least all that have been mentioned here are usually available multiple times a year.

 

[Paradoxica]

While definitely not THE largest, I think Rhombodera Stalii deserves a mention.