My first Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii

[Malakyoma]

I got this little one as a gift when I last visited SilentDeviL (My go to guy for mantids. good breeder you should check him out) for a trade. Just molted about 36 hours ago, and is starting to get some white. The little dance they do is so adorable, shaking their butt around and shadowboxing all the time.

 

[Coneja]

Oh my goodness, he's so tiny and spiky! :lol:

Do they retain those oversized "segments" on their antennae as they grow older? I'd never noticed that before!

 

[SilentDeviL]

I got this little one as a gift when I last visited SilentDeviL (My go to guy for mantids. good breeder you should check him out) for a trade. Just molted about 36 hours ago, and is starting to get some white. The little dance they do is so adorable, shaking their butt around and shadowboxing all the time.

Ha I know you'll like it Mike ... P.W's is just too cool lol .....

 

[sinensispsyched]

Ha I know you'll like it Mike ... P.W's is just too cool lol .....

True that! My favorite species, yet!

 

[SilentDeviL]

My Next test Project is trying to make my PW.s change color........... on my 2nd Gen when i breed them...

 

[twolfe]

Oh my goodness, he's so tiny and spiky! :lol:

Do they retain those oversized "segments" on their antennae as they grow older? I'd never noticed that before!

They lose those little bulb things on the antennae around L6. They seem to shrink a little with every molt.

 

[agent A]

some of those r likely p. occelata

 

[twolfe]

SilentDevil, it's not too late to work with them now. They don't typically change colors until L5 or so.

I've made mine change colors but never as much as those photos above. Usually they will sit on silk flowers and will pick up some of the color after they molt. Some of them were likely enhanced with Photoshop. My adults sometimes will have a slight color to them, but the majority of them look identical once they molt to adults.

 

[SilentDeviL]

SilentDevil, it's not too late to work with them now. They don't typically change colors until L5 or so.

I've made mine change colors but never as much as those photos above. Usually they will sit on silk flowers and will pick up some of the color after they molt. Some of them were likely enhanced with Photoshop. My adults sometimes will have a slight color to them, but the majority of them look identical once they molt to adults.

Thanks Tammy Most my are still only L4 only few L5s I'll do a test first I need to buy some fake purple flower plants lol ... and Red Pink.,,,,

 

[angelofdeathzz]

A couple drops of food coloring on the prey items they eat may go a long way?

 

[Malakyoma]

A couple drops of food coloring on the prey items they eat may go a long way?

Could certanly turn an Orchid blue. I've seen lots of pictures where you can see inside

 

[D_Hemptress]

My Next test Project is trying to make my PW.s change color........... on my 2nd Gen when i breed them...

how exactly was that done, i want purple mantids

 

[hierodula]

Ur hooked :shifty: :clown:

 

[Montana]

A couple drops of food coloring on the prey items they eat may go a long way?

I'll have to try this sometime... :shifty:

... for science.

 

[Malakyoma]

Molted to L4 the other day. I need to go out and get some purple flowers to try and paint him purple lol.

 

[RevWillie]

I wonder how much of the *real* color change in wallies is colored environment and how much is sunlight + colored environment... ?

 

[D_Hemptress]

haha that lazst picture looks like he is waving at the camera saying "yo!"

 

[Malakyoma]

I took Spike out yesterday while I put some snazzy purple flowers into his cup and he went on a worm hunt. he's quite the hungry little dude.

 

[hierodula]

I agree, when they were young, mine would take mealies that were bigger than them too. They are really strong and aggressive! Aweosme little dudes.