OGIGA's Mantis Mini-gallery

[OGIGA]

These are my L3s

I'll be adding more as I get bored and take more pictures. :wink:

 

[rlechols]

Those are cute little guys. What species are they?

 

[OGIGA]

I really don't know. Anyone care to tell me?

 

[jplelito]

Hierodula sp. maybe? Did you buy them under the name 'Giant Indian (African, Asian) Mantid' or something similar?

 

[OGIGA]

I actually didn't buy them. I just found the ootheca outside and it hatched. They must be native to Northern California, but I really don't know.

 

[jplelito]

Oh that makes it much easier then.

Stagmomantis californica or Iris oratoria, but I'm not sure the range of I. oratoria. I've never seen a juvie I. oratoria so I can only guess, but I know as they age they will grow an orange spot under their abdomen that Stagmomantis will lack.

Either are a nice, medium sized species to work with.

If it turns out to be I. oratoria I might ask if you can find any more.

Maybe someone from out West will know better.

 

[OGIGA]

Hmm, I don't think I have seen green mantises with an orange spot under them around here. Must be Stagmomantis californica. Thanks for the ID!

 

[Ian]

Lovely photos!

 

[OGIGA]

More pictures:

(They're all from the same ootheca. I don't know why this one is not green.)

(I hope that dark spot isn't an infection)

 

[OGIGA]

I don't know what happened to his leg...

Anyway, this one is eating a large crane fly with its limbs removed.

 

[robo mantis]

wow you got some beautiful babies!

 

[yen_saw]

NIce pics Ogiga! If the dark spot didn't spread, it will be alright. Looks like a tiny wound, maybe a bite from one of the siblings.

 

[OGIGA]

Thanks. I don't think the dark spot spreaded. Maybe I fed it a cricket and the cricked wanted to retaliate. They all are kept seperately.

 

[OGIGA]

Latest molt

 

[Jodokohajjio]

(They're all from the same ootheca. I don't know why this one is not green.)

I remember reading somewhere (possibly on this forum) that the mantid's color after a moult depends on the humidity during the moult and while their new exoskeleton is hardening.

 

[OGIGA]

My first L5:

 

[Peekaboo]

They're developing beautifully. Do you plan on breeding?

 

[OGIGA]

Thanks. I just plan to having mantises to look at and play with. I only have four left so if I don't get any ooths, it may be a while before I start playing with mantises again.

 

[OGIGA]

Enjoying my last good mantis while it lasts.