Hi John, I usually have my husband help me, it's too hard to do alone, he has big hands and fingers, but is very gentle,
it comes from handling glass for 30 years, (and of course me)! :lol:
Only thing is he does not take pictures, I make him stand by and catch all the runaways:}.
I use a white tray with sides, this came from an underthebed sweater container, it was inside of it for small things.
I get setup with everything I need, the babies, their new home and my ever trusty Bamboo Screwer! (I noticed Nick is selling them on his site)
I have always used a bamboo screwer (10-12") to work with my Mantis. It is like a lion tamers whip. I move them with the screwer all the time,
I use it for ff catching (they crawl out of ff container onto it to their doom) and chasing crickets around their containers to get the
mantis attention if they happen to not notice dinner! It is the greatest thing for babies, It is light (weight) and rough (for bugs to grab).
So # 1 is the setup with everything ready...even hubby!
#2 is taking off the lid of their current home, notice I am picking them
off the inside of the lid, these have to come off first, unless an
escapee is on the rim.
#3 is catching the ones running up and out onto the rim, notice them on the bamboo and on my thumb!
#4 is removing the excelsior and the ones on it all in one move.
#5 is catching any remaining nymphs hiding inside old container. and tapping it on the rim to make them fall inside. (careful you don't hit
one in the head)! Notice the one on rim under bamboo.
And #6 is a quick mist and some ff and putting out the closed sign!
Of course as always, this is how I do it, it was easy tongiht for some reason, maybe they did not want to be in pictures! It is fun, and sometimes I just stand there when they get out all over the place
and say "Good Lord" Help!
