Oxyopsis Gracilis

[jtk1014]

These are my first mantids! I got 5 of them yesterday from Jude and gave 2 to Axolotlsarecooltoo. They all arrived in good condition, and one even molted during shipping. Here are 2 out of the 3 that i kept.

This one molted last night and unfortunately her(?) wings got messed up somehow

I went to bed when her wings were still inflating, then i woke up and they were like this

Here is the one that molted during shipping

The third one seems like its about to molt, i'll post some pictures later

 

[agent A]

The last pic looks fine but they r now stuck in whatever state they r in

Nice pics though

 

[jtk1014]

Yeah she seems to be moving around fine. Are these both females?

 

[Precarious]

Those are both females. Unless the sub looks significantly different (smaller size, longer/thinner abdomen, thicker antennae) then all 3 are female.

This is what a sub male looks like...

Sub female...

 

[Precarious]

The wings could be imperfect in the first one because there was nothing handy for her to grab onto within reach of the lid. I know there are fake plants there but they avoid risky moves while the carapace is still soft. If there were leaves closer to the top she would likely have grabbed them, or if there was screen or something glued on the sides by the lid.

When a mantis inflates the wings while hanging from a flat vertical surface they sometimes cannot hang at the proper angle. Ideally they will be at about 45 degrees. This usually entails them grasping something with the middle set of legs while grasping a higher surface with the tips of the raptors. Also they more often than not climb higher rather than lower to accomplish this. So if they molt from the highest point in the enclosure there is a better chance of imperfect wings.

Just giving you a heads up for future molts.

 

[agent A]

When a mantis inflates the wings while hanging from a flat vertical surface they sometimes cannot hang at the proper angle. Ideally they will be at about 45 degrees. This usually entails them grasping something with the middle set of legs while grasping a higher surface with the tips of the raptors. Also they more often than not climb higher rather than lower to accomplish this. So if they molt from the highest point in the enclosure there is a better chance of imperfect wings.

Just giving you a heads up for future molts.

But i have mantises molt from the lids of deli cups with nothing else in the cup all the time and the wings turn out fine, a ghost did this almost 20 days ago and another one is abt to

 

[Precarious]

But i have mantises molt from the lids of deli cups with nothing else in the cup all the time and the wings turn out fine, a ghost did this almost 20 days ago and another one is abt to

When a mantis inflates the wings while hanging from a flat vertical surface they sometimes cannot hang at the proper angle.

In a 32 oz deli cup I've seen some anchor raptors on the lid and press the middle legs against the side even if it's not grippable. This Oxy didn't have that option. And it all depends on the length of the legs on a particular species. Ghosts do fine with vertical surfaces.

Go to about 5:30:

 

[fleurdejoo]

Is only one side of that vented?

 

[jtk1014]

The wings could be imperfect in the first one because there was nothing handy for her to grab onto within reach of the lid. I know there are fake plants there but they avoid risky moves while the carapace is still soft. If there were leaves closer to the top she would likely have grabbed them, or if there was screen or something glued on the sides by the lid.

When a mantis inflates the wings while hanging from a flat vertical surface they sometimes cannot hang at the proper angle. Ideally they will be at about 45 degrees. This usually entails them grasping something with the middle set of legs while grasping a higher surface with the tips of the raptors. Also they more often than not climb higher rather than lower to accomplish this. So if they molt from the highest point in the enclosure there is a better chance of imperfect wings.

Just giving you a heads up for future molts.

Thank you for the advice! The third one is definitely female also and hasn't molted yet, i'll put something close to the lid for her to grip before she does.

Is only one side of that vented?

Yes should i cut another vent on the other side?

 

[agent A]

In a 32 oz deli cup I've seen some anchor raptors on the lid and press the middle legs against the side even if it's not grippable. This Oxy didn't have that option. And it all depends on the length of the legs on a particular species. Ghosts do fine with vertical surfaces.

Go to about 5:30:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9sJqVhYILU'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9sJqVhYILU

Of all the species i have witnessed the final molt of, including gongys creos idolos sybilla pseudoharpax wallies popas tenoderas phyllocranias and a few others i cant think of right now, ghosts r the coolest to watch and only they creos and sybillas r perfectly content hanging from a lid like that

 

[fleurdejoo]

Personally I mist a lot and like to keep things super vented.

I put vents on everything!!!

 

[jtk1014]

The last remaining nymph finally molted the other night! She is the largest of the three.

 

[agent A]

She looks good!

 

[fleurdejoo]

Beautiful!!