Oddly Shaped Ghost Mantis Ooth

Mantidforum

Help Support Mantidforum:

NCMantis

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
23
Reaction score
5
Location
North Carolina
I recently ordered a ghost mantis, but instead I got a ghost mantis ooth. It is oddly shaped. Will it still hatch?
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 0

Orin

Moderator
Joined
Dec 10, 2004
Messages
1,847
Reaction score
241
Location
USA
Just remember not to dry it out or make it moldy.
 

happy1892

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
2,652
Reaction score
146
Location
North Carolina
They look okay from what I can tell. It is two Ghost mantis oothecas stuck together.
I take that back. I am not sure I would be able to tell if a Ghost mantis ootheca was okay or not. Infertile oothecas can be unusual in shape, but I do not know if that is the case with Ghost mantises. The ootheca on the bottom of the photo looks a bit lumpy. But the one on top of the photo is more normal and smooth.
 

NCMantis

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
23
Reaction score
5
Location
North Carolina
I take that back. I am not sure I would be able to tell if a Ghost mantis ootheca was okay or not. Infertile oothecas can be unusual in shape, but I do not know if that is the case with Ghost mantises. The ootheca on the bottom of the photo looks a bit lumpy. But the one on top of the photo is more normal and smooth.
Okay, if it is fertile it might hatch in a few days. We’ll see then.
 

happy1892

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
2,652
Reaction score
146
Location
North Carolina
Okay, if it is fertile it might hatch in a few days. We’ll see then.
Yes, as Hibiscusmile said, they were not fresh because they were brown in color. Fresh Ghost oothecae are green in color. So they should be ready to hatch soon if they were good. I have several Ghost oothecas hatching now. They don't take that long to hatch after they turn brown.

It is the first time for me raising and breeding Ghost mantises. It is a cool species! Not very hard to raise and breed.
 

NCMantis

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
23
Reaction score
5
Location
North Carolina
Yes, as Hibiscusmile said, they were not fresh because they were brown in color. Fresh Ghost oothecae are green in color. So they should be ready to hatch soon if they were good. I have several Ghost oothecas hatching now. They don't take that long to hatch after they turn brown.

It is the first time for me raising and breeding Ghost mantises. It is a cool species! Not very hard to raise and breed.
Oh okay. How long do you think it would be after it turns brown? I got it January 25
 

agent A

the autistic flower mantis
Supporting Member
Joined
May 17, 2009
Messages
8,710
Reaction score
921
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Oh okay. How long do you think it would be after it turns brown? I got it January 25
if you got it January 25th, I'd assume it would be at least a week old, and these take 6-7 weeks to hatch, so it may be as late as March 15th before it hatches
the color change isn't the best indicator of very much because it's a chemical reaction, not a biological one
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
13,458
Reaction score
764
Location
Ohio
no, the ooth at that color should be hatching now. If you look closely at the picture the big ooth has the start of a fresh ooth on the bottom which would of been pulled off of whatever it was on. you can always send to me and I will tell you if it is old or not. Or you ca cut a 1/4" off and see if there are dried black nymphs in there and then u will know.
 

happy1892

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
2,652
Reaction score
146
Location
North Carolina
Yes, I agree with hibsicusmile that it is about time it should have hatched since you got it when the ootheca was brown color which means it was already older. Cooler temperatures might make oothecas take longer to hatch though.
 

Latest posts

Top