Mantis Religiosa ooth last night!

[HungryGhost]

The fat female mantis religiosa I found on 10/18 made and ooth last night (10/20). I'm glad I found her when I did as we had a frost last night. Any tips on refrigeration storage would be much appreciated.

 

[Pizzaparlor45]

Religilosa ooths are a pain in my opinion, they usually require a overwintering in the fridge. I suggest keeping it in the vegtable crisper thing but remebmeber it can get quite dry in there so always remember to check on it every 3 days or so.

 

[Extrememantid]

I've had success with religiosa ooths.. Put the ooth in a container in the fridge and every few days or so give the ooth a light misting and once it starts warm up in the spring take the ooth out and inspect carefully every few days and mist up to 3 times a week and next thing you know... A week to 2 months after taking it out of the fridge there will be alot of little nymphs running around. To remove the ooth maybe take like a pocket knife and very carefully remove it.. And the use a low heat glue gun to attach it to stick by the bottom.

All the best,

Cole

 

[HungryGhost]

I've had success with religiosa ooths.. Put the ooth in a container in the fridge and every few days or so give the ooth a light misting and once it starts warm up in the spring take the ooth out and inspect carefully every few days and mist up to 3 times a week and next thing you know... A week to 2 months after taking it out of the fridge there will be alot of little nymphs running around. To remove the ooth maybe take like a pocket knife and very carefully remove it.. And the use a low heat glue gun to attach it to stick by the bottom.

All the best,

Cole

Thanks for the info Cole. I was thinking about leaving the ooth between a north-facing window and screen exposed to the winter weather for the diapause. European mantids are naturalized in my location and I thought this would be the most natural and low maintenance way to store it. But with the unusually warm winters we've had lately maybe the fridge is the way to go.

 

[Extrememantid]

Thanks for the info Cole. I was thinking about leaving the ooth between a north-facing window and screen exposed to the winter weather for the diapause. European mantids are naturalized in my location and I thought this would be the most natural and low maintenance way to store it. But with the unusually warm winters we've had lately maybe the fridge is the way to go.

Yep that should work but if it is a really warm winter then go with the fridge..