Mantis religiosa hatching... Sort of...

[Ntsees]

European mantids are tough when they have hatched (I remember an old discussion on this). I've had my share of experience with them dying at the first instar. They might live a few days, but most won't last more than that. However, if they can get to the ~3rd instar or beyond, they are no problem raising.

 

[ismart]

Well if that's the case ismart...I won't waste my time trying to breed the adults I catch this year..why bother?

What!!! Of course you should still bother! I was not trying to discorage you. I can tell you what i think the problem might have been? You took them out of your garage to late to start to incubate them properly. If they started to hatch only 10 days after you took them out of the garage, then something is wrong there. I personally think they started to incubate in your garage, but without misting at that crucial time. It might have disrupted there developement? This of course is just a theory.

 

[mantisboy]

Nope....I read what you said, don't start back tracking on me now ismart!

Well, we'll see what happens...summer has yet to show itself this year in Boise. I took the Ooths out of the garage the last week of April (temp highs 50 degrees), just days before our last snow. I use a beta fish aquarium for housing the Ooths along with 1.5 inches of sand for substrate. I am going to give them until the end of month but if they don't hatch..oh well. I know I will catch some adults towards the end of summer and this time I won't have to deal with males...less mouths to feed and housings to clean.

I use a heavy misting (wetted paper towel)and drying out regiment..seems more natural..and every nymph that has popped did so between 9am and 12noon while the housing was in a drying out mode. Although they don't receive any direct sunlight...the ambient light must have some effect on them...so I absolutely concur with your theory.

As always, thanks for your reply ismart....

 

[ismart]

Well... timing to incubate the ooths seems about right. Next year you should take the ooths out a bit more earlier. I normally take mine out of the garage the first week in april to incubate indoors. They hatch the first week in May for me indoors. The ooths that are kept out naturally hatch in the second, or third week in may. Usually 2-3 weeks earlier than wild chinese ooths. I know you are in a different state, but i don't think our temps are to far off from each other? Continue to incubate your ooths. Hopefully i am wrong? Good luck!