Oligonicella scudderi

[cat_named_noodles]

Here's my tiny little Scudder's mantis, Oligonicella scudderi. Wish I could find her a male but I've never seen them in the hobby and they are so hard to find out here, being so small! She's a subadult (not sure but I think one more molt to go), and she molted two days ago.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

These were taken before her last molt

 

[mantisman 230]

still a very nice mantis

 

[dmina]

Really cool mantis.. Thanks for sharing.. Love those eyes..

 

[rbird]

Wish I could find her a male but I've never seen them in the hobby and they are so hard to find out here, being so small!

Let her do all the work finding a male? You could place her outside when she's calling and wait for males to show up?

I especially like the shorter antennae and the camouflage coloring next to the twigs.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[Rick]

Those are great. I would love to have them at Bugfest one year. I do have a dead one though.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

Let her do all the work finding a male? You could place her outside when she's calling and wait for males to show up?

I especially like the shorter antennae and the camouflage coloring next to the twigs.

Thanks for the pics.

I think I'll give it a try when she's mature. Thanks rbird for the suggestion!

 

[rbird]

"Ecology

Male Oligonicella scudderi are sometimes caught in black light traps at night, and have been seen feeding on small flies, caddis flies and wasps. ... When disturbed they tend to hide in tussocks of little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium) where their colouration makes them difficult to spot.[3] They can best be caught by brushing a small-mesh net through the grass."

This Scudder's info. is from wikipedia, here's the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligonicella_scudderi