My New Little Family with ID Info

[ladygigi]

Well, my 10 little mantids are now 12 and go from 1st Instar to what is either a large 2nd or is 3rd Instar. I did some more research and ID'd the 3 females that I had fed to my Tartan. All 3 were the same, however, I must admit, I have quite a variation in my little ones, ^_^ as you will see in the pics. Anyway, before I post the baby pictures, I will let you know that the females were all Religiosas. Yet I have 2 babies that are black, 1 that is brown, 1 that is quite a bit green, and one that is even rather pink! The others are all still too little and are just a light tan color. I posted a couple pics here, (all of the different colors-it'll tell ya if you hold your mouse over the pic) the others I placed in the gallery.

 

[MantidLord]

Looks like Iris oratoria to me.

Just read that you said the females were M. religiosa. I didn't those nymphs were green. You sure adult females didn't look like this:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3397/3262811976_fe32fd5cf6.jpg

Not my image.

Also, the fact that you're getting more hatchlings about every day is consistent with I. oratoria. M. religiosa tends to hatch out en masse. Besides, you probably would've noticed the M. religiosa egg case, where as Iris can be quite inconspicuous.

 

[jrh3]

M. religiosa nymphs are black or very dark when they hatch out as L1. can you post a pic of the ooth?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Verrry Innnteresting!

 

[aNisip]

Yup those look like oratoria....

 

[AxolotlsAreCoolToo]

Looks like Iris oratoria to me.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3397/3262811976_fe32fd5cf6.jpg

wow im in love with oratoria does any one eles have them?

 

[ladygigi]

Looks like Iris oratoria to me.

Just read that you said the females were M. religiosa. I didn't those nymphs were green. You sure adult females didn't look like this:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3397/3262811976_fe32fd5cf6.jpg

Not my image.

Also, the fact that you're getting more hatchlings about every day is consistent with I. oratoria. M. religiosa tends to hatch out en masse. Besides, you probably would've noticed the M. religiosa egg case, where as Iris can be quite inconspicuous.

I stand corrected. Even confirmed by Wikipedia. There are a lot of incorrectly identified Religiosas on the internet. . . So, yes, that was her (them), Iris Oratoria. Thank you! I've corrected my gallery album also. So, they hatch like this, one or two at a time? Wow, no wonder I just keep finding more. I remember seeing the ooth when I removed Tartan from the cage and wondered what the heck it was, but you can't see it now and I'm afraid to disturb the 1st Instars. But it looked like a light brown, kind of syrofoamish appearance, about an inch long approx. with a line kind of like going down the middle. :huh: Does that fit too?

 

[ladygigi]

Yup those look like oratoria....

Yup, I've been corrected, they are!

 

[ladygigi]

wow im in love with oratoria does any one eles have them?

Really? Maybe when they are stable, and I get this going, like breeding and stuff, I can send you some for a birthday gift or something! I do things like that.

 

[ladygigi]

Well everyone, I have been corrected and found that I am raising Iris Oratoria babies. The image that I was given was a dead ringer and even Wikipedia had one whereas Wikipedia didn't have a threat display image for the Religiosa. I kept trying to see if mine had that black spot on their forceps that the Religiosa have. I have to tell you that their are either a lot of similarities in the threat display for the Religiosa, or there are a lot of incorrect images on the internet. I am very happy to know now just what I'm dealing with! :stuart: I saw the ooth when I removed my beloved Tartan (R.I.P.) and wondered what in the heck??? :blink: It was a light brownish color, approx. an inch in length, kind of looked like styrofoam (LOL) and had like a line going down the middle. I can't really get to it now as I'm afraid to disturb the delicate 1st Instars. I would like to thank all of you that helped me to correctly identify my little ones. I feel like I've actually learned something! :smarty: LOL - BTW, I've also corrected my album in the gallery.

 

[ladygigi]

I just checked on my little family and thought I would let you all know that I now have 14! :no: For someone new to this who got here on accident, it is a little intimidating. . . :blink: I think I'm going to have to clean out the other terrarium and prepare it and start separating. Getting too many for the one. Oh boy, hadn't bargained for this at all! What do I use for substrate? I mean, what do I put on the bottom of the other terrarium? I am NOT ready for this. I've gotta get bulbs, (I took them out and used them to replace the ones in the one I have now when they burned out. I used to have a bearded dragon in the other one, but he died a long time ago.) I see some work ahead, :excl: I'm going to have to enlist the help of a friend. :helpsmilie: I can't do it all myself unfortunately, :hang: my disabilities and well, anyway, I'll get her done! :gunsmilie:

 

[Tony C]

Plastic cups are a simple and economical way to deal with large numbers of nymphs.

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=28467

 

[thalassarche]

For my nymphs who need humidity I give them a substrate of ground coco fiber, same stuff my crested gecko has (which is why I have so much of it!). Paper towels work too tho little instars can sometimes get underneath and not able to get out.

The link Tony C shared shows a really easy way to make housing for nymphs! Rebecca at Mantisplace.com also sells various sizes of cups with different sorts of lids that can easily house nymphs.

I live in NC and it's warm enough here that I don't have supplemental heating for any of my mantises except my new B. mendica nymphs (desert species), who get my gecko's heatlamp spillover.

 

[happy1892]

Darn! I thought those were Yersiniops.

 

[jrh3]

Plastic cups are a simple and economical way to deal with large numbers of nymphs.

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=28467

agreed, this will be best and with the small amount you have you can seperate them all. this will be easier to get them all to adult hood.

 

[bobericc]

I oratoria are beautiful! Especially the wing set as adults you should be excited and look for more

Don't feed anymore to your tartan lol

 

[ladygigi]

I oratoria are beautiful! Especially the wing set as adults you should be excited and look for more

Don't feed anymore to your tartan lol

Tartan passed away, so you don't have to worry! :balloon: Yes you are right about them being gorgeous creatures. I am rather excited, yet albeit overwhelmed too. I got into this totally on accident, so it isn't like I started doing this because it was something I wanted to get into. I'm not complaining tho, don't take my comments of being overwhelmed the wrong way. I'm just venting a little surprise frustration maybe? LOL :lol: I am rather looking forward to the whole idea and am currently in the process of trying to enlist a little help because I want to make sure these guys get the best of care. After all, they were/are a gift from the Gods. :wub: At last count I was up to 14, I haven't counted yet this morning. Just got up and am on first cup of coffee. :yawn:

 

[MantidLord]

I. oratoria is fairly easy to breed. You don't get as many random die offs as say T. sinensis or M. religiosa. Also water isn't such a huge factor and although you should always mist them from time to time, they can function well without it. Basically, humidity isn't a problem with them. You can get nymphs hatching for the next week or so, so you may get more. I usually don't experience mass cannibalism until the second instar, but I've seen some guys attack their siblings in first instar. Because you have so few, separating them and feeding them fruit flies (or aphids!) is a good idea. I've dealt with these guys quite often in vegas. Very cool, naturalized species.

 

[happy1892]

Are you sure they are not another mantis? Can anybody post pictures of L1 Iris oratoria nymphs? I read that your mantises that you fed the lizard had a line down the middle.

Take a look at this.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/239768/bgimage