Nymphs hatching at L2?

[herpguy]

Hello,

This past season I had a Chinese ooth that hatched, and the offspring looked about double the size that my other hatchlings were at hatching. Well, I kept one and raised it to adult. Well, I counted the instars, and I could of sworn that it molted mature at L7, as a female! I kept her remains to prove that she was female. I know that it can not be possilble for a mantid to molt an additional time in the oothecae, but is it in any way possible that the nymphs started out larger and with a little extra boost?

It could be possible that she molted an extra time that I didn't see, but it just seems ironic that it seemed that a super-size nymph molts adult early.

-Dave

 

[ismart]

I have seen some size differences between chinese mantis L1 nymphs from different ooths. I dont think they would or could skip a moult to become adult sooner. If it is possible i have never whitnessed or noiced this personally. Maybe one of our entomologist members could help more with this subject.

 

[Rick]

You missed a molt.

 

[herpguy]

You missed a molt.

Yeah, seems like the logical answer, I just find it a coincidence that larger nymphs "seemed" to skip a molt.

-Dave

 

[matt020593]

I'm sure Macro Junkie had a P. Ocellata nymph that hatched an instar ahead of the rest of the other nymphs , or something like that anyway.

 

[The_Asa]

I thought some just hatched larger...

like the signature Rick :lol:

 

[kamakiri]

:huh: I thought for T. sinensis that L6 is adult?

 

[Orin]

I don't imagine she molted an irregular number of times but if she were wouldn't she be really tiny if she missed a molt?

 

[herpguy]

I don't imagine she molted an irregular number of times but if she were wouldn't she be really tiny if she missed a molt?

Yeah, I forgot to mention that she was not too large as T. sinesis go, but she wasn't tiny. She was about 2.75"-3."

-Dave

 

[drosophila]

I can't imagine that nypmphys may hatch as L2, but the number of molts is variable. That's for sure. Even under loaboratory conditions. Especcially for T. sinensis this is a proofed fact

 

[agent A]

Are you sure the other hatchlings were chinese. Some other species look like chinese but are not.