Plistospilota guineensis

[Rob Byatt]

So here are pictures of the biggie we saw on someones arm...

I've got two females mated already, seven to go. Wish me luck.

Rob.

 

[Ian]

What a lovely specimen...where was she from?

You are going to have a fair few ooths to incubate if all matings are a success! Best of luck.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Got them from the BTS in May, all 2 moults from adult.

Hopefully I'll be over run with them (why on earth would I want more to feed ?!)

Rob

 

[yen_saw]

Now that is one huge praying mantis. If the H. Grandis in the pic is 5" long this species reaches at least 6" :shock:

 

[wuwu]

i've seen a WC female chinese mantid that was at least 6" before.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Most of my adult females are 5", none above this. But that is still vevy big !

H. grandis does not usually reach 5" inches anyway.

 

[yen_saw]

How big is the male Rob. You only have female in your photo album.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Yeah, I'm bad for that recently ! I don't get much time to photograph them, so when I do it is always the females. Not very proffesional I know !!!

The males are around 10cm.

Rob

 

[yen_saw]

Your pics are nice and professional (at least to me it is). Professionalism has nothing to do with not including the male species on the pic.

 

[Rob Byatt]

3rd female mated off !

 

[Rick]

Somebody over here needs to get some of them.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Ok, good news. I had my first ootheca layed on the 28th August - it's huge !!!

So in a matter of weeks I'm going to have lots of the little beasts, at least I hope. Lost my first male to a female yesterday, but got three more to get through !

 

[Rob Byatt]

These produce big ootheca. This one is 50mm in length

 

[Rob Byatt]

GOOD NEWS !!!! Well sort of One of the ootheca hatched about a week ago. At long last; it's been like waiting for Xmas !

Unfortunately it was a very small hatch - approx. 20. But at least I've got them going now. I'm so Happy !!!!!

Unfortunately the 1st ootheca that was layed has not hatched, so it looks like the only female I have left isn't fertile. But I have a male coming today. Fingers crossed !

So I'm afraid it is good news for me but bad new for all those who have been waiting for them ! But don't give up yet; still got a few ootheca waiting ........

Rob.

 

[prozacwoman]

Hi! My name is AJ, I'm from TN, and I recently found a little mantis outside, and I've never kept one before, but now I'm really interested. Anyway, what I wanted to ask is, why on earth is that female eating her own arm?? :shock: LOL

xo,

AJ

 

[robo mantis]

introduce your self in the other forum well anyway sometimes they do eat their legs for no reason lol

 

[Rob Byatt]

Hi! My name is AJ, I'm from TN, and I recently found a little mantis outside, and I've never kept one before, but now I'm really interested. Anyway, what I wanted to ask is, why on earth is that female eating her own arm?? :shock: LOLxo,

AJ

Hi, she is removing her leg due to an injury - that is the way that mantids 'deal' with it. By removing the damaged part to the next joint, they reduce the chance of any infection (remeber that minsects cannot repair their integument).

Rob.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Absolutely no more good news on these I'm afraid. My last female that I managed to re-mate looks like she's about to snuff it.

I had 7 mated females and 4 laid; only one of those hatched and all the females died ! How unlucky is that !!?

Oh well, at least the nymphs that hatched are doing well.

Sorry folks, it's a bit of a let down after all the hype !

Rob.

 

[Rob Byatt]

Wow, over two years since I ;ast posted on this thread.....unless there is another one lurking......

A lot has happened since that first hatch, three generations in fact

So that means I have been saved by the mantid gods as they have allowed an ootheca to hatch !!!

I thought this this species would be lost this year, I am so relieved :lol: