parasitoid wasp! and Chinese nymphs not eating

[Mystymantis]

Another Chinese egg case hatched! But I am worried because I found a parasitoid wasp in the container a few days just before the egg case hatched. Does anyone know anything about parasitoid wasps and the kinds that attack mantis egg cases? I tried researching it but didn't find much.

Since the nymphs hatched it appears none have eaten anything. Which I know they don't usually eat the first day. But now it is the third day.

How long does it usually take for Chinese mantises to start eating after they hatch? I have hatched Chinese ootheca before but never documented how long it usually takes. I fed the little guys a bunch of fruit flies and none seem to have touched any. and I always get worried at this critical delicate time for the nymphs.

 

[crabbypatty]

 Well, the wasps wouldn't affect the now born babies. I think they eat on day 2 or 3 from what I've read, it is their first molt after all, they need to fully harden. Just kill any wasps that come out so any more ooths you have don't befall the same fate.

 

[Ocelotbren]

I found this thread by CosbyArt on parasitic wasps pretty informative and interesting:

 

[Mystymantis]

I found this thread by CosbyArt on parasitic wasps pretty informative and interesting:

Thank you for this thread, it was very informative and interesting. The parasitoid that I found though is not the same as those. I can't seem to identify the one I found, but since I haven't found any more maybe it was an isolated thing.

@crabbypatty Thank you for the information. They are indeed eating now. But sadly many of them are dying for unknown reasons. Although I do know that Chinese mantises can sometimes have low survival rates, with lots of the nymphs dying, it just seems more are dying then usual. Would spraying with tap water harm them? could there be something in the water that is bad for them? that is the only thing I can think of that could be causing them to die. Has anyone had this problem before?

 

[Boeseph]

Distilled water is definitely the way to go. There are chemicals in tap water that are not harmful to us but are, in fact, harmful to our little mantis friends.