minomantis
Well-known member
So I'm pretty good with making sure my mantises are in the right size container for molting and I provide them with sticks and the necessities. I had my L4 Chinese mantises in the big Styrofoam cups and they fit fine. I knew the next molt though, they would need to be in a more appropriate sized container. About a couple days ago I noticed one of my mantids preparing himself for a molt so I took him out and put him on one of my indoor plants and I was able to watch him molt from beginning to end.
The next morning, I looked in the rest of the cups and another one of my mantids had molted. What blew my mind was the skin was hanging from the side of the cup instead of the branch that was in there. First I was shocked and relieved that I didn't have a mismolt situation on my hands but then very interested how the mantis was able to molt from the side of the Styrofoam cup. His hind legs were on the rim, so I'm sure that helped, but still, wow!
I was just happy that he molted fine, with no limbs torn or messed up.
The next morning, I looked in the rest of the cups and another one of my mantids had molted. What blew my mind was the skin was hanging from the side of the cup instead of the branch that was in there. First I was shocked and relieved that I didn't have a mismolt situation on my hands but then very interested how the mantis was able to molt from the side of the Styrofoam cup. His hind legs were on the rim, so I'm sure that helped, but still, wow!
I was just happy that he molted fine, with no limbs torn or messed up.
