Preparing...(question)

[Domanating]

So these are my ooths, laid by 3 Mantis Religiosa. As far as i know all ooths should be fertile.

In 2 months, these ooths should hatch and i plan to keep the 3 groups of newborns separated to avoid interbreeding for the future.

My question here is: despite the loss of mantids in the following days after birth (which will be predictable), do you recomend to separate each ooth in different enclosures?

I'm not sure if many will emerge or very few but i'm afraid of having each enclosure littered with mini-aliens if i'm lucky enough to have all eggs hatching.

 

[happy1892]

They might be able to get out of those cracks in the lid. My Statilia maculata did that but only a few came out of the cracks.

 

[agent A]

mantis religiosa ooths need a diapause period

 

[jimpaunik]

mantis religiosa ooths need a diapause period

what does that mean? /swede with language issues

 

[happy1892]

what does that mean? /swede with language issues

Diapause means they need time when they stop growing or something like that. It is like hibernation. The cold temperature might make them do that.

 

[Domanating]

They cannot get out because i already had other breedings before with same enclosures. None got out.

The diapause is almost over. As i said they will hatch in 2 months. All these ooths were laid in November/December 2011 and usually hatch in May, sometimes early June.

 

[CoolMantid]

Mist them daily. But only mist the ooths directly once a week

Does that make sense? I could explain it in mores depth if it doesnt

 

[happy1892]

Link.

 

[Domanating]

Mist them daily. But only mist the ooths directly once a week

Does that make sense? I could explain it in mores depth if it doesnt

Yes i know all of this. But i only mist directly once a week because the room where the ooths are have a constant 70-80% humidity levels due to poor construction and due to the fact that there's a well below it. When hot weather arrives then yes i mist more frequently.

I just would like my question answered so i can prepare a decent amount of enclosures for each ooth (or not, depending on your answer)

 

[Rick]

Yes, put each ooth into it's own container. Those you have in the pics are poor choices. If the mantids cannot get out the fruit flies probably can. Interbreeding really isn't a concern here though so I wouldn't worry about that. That species has a high mortality rate when young so good luck.

 

[agent A]

That species has a high mortality rate when young so good luck.

you can say that again! last time i hatched an ooth almost half died within the first hour for no apparant reason

 

[CoolMantid]

When my ooth hatched on Friday, I misted the enclosure and they bowed down to drink, so they were really thirsty

I would guess that each ooth will hatch an average of 50 nymphs and i would assume you have about 10-15 ooths. I old buy about 50 cups. I don't think more than 50 would hatch out. Then put 3-5 nymphs in each cup until they cannibalize each other.

 

[Domanating]

Last year, from 25 mantids of a single medium ooth, only 1 survived. So yeah... I need all the luck i can get.

Don't worry about the enclosures. I got good ones for the purpose. Fruit flies aren't the usual food for the young mantids i raise. I usually feed them aphids. There are plenty around where i live.

Thanks for the info and tips. I shall now prepare for heck or possibly heaven, lol

 

[MantidLord]

Keep us updated please. I took some ooths of these guys out the fridge last week, how long would you say the incubation period is? I feed my nymphs aphids when I can get them, so much easier except sometimes they're so sluggish.

 

[MantidLord]

Keep us updated please. I took some ooths of these guys out the fridge last week, how long would you say the incubation period is? I feed my nymphs aphids when I can get them, so much easier except sometimes they're so sluggish.

 

[Domanating]

Do you consider the diapause as part of the incubation period?

I cannot tell when the diapause ends. I just let my ooths be in my "special" cold and moisty room from November/December until they hatch, when there's more sunlight hours, very often during the month of May

 

[CoolMantid]

For a healthier hatch, Diapause should be at least 1 month but prefferably 2. Just think if an ooth was laid in november it is still fall so it should be warmer. Then in December it will get cold until End of Janruary/earlly February. For example. I am putting 3 Brunners ooth in the fridge. It is about 45 degrees there. I put them in there on February 1 and I will take them out April 1.

There should be a diapause because then the ooth might not be able to tell what month it is and might not hatch., Same goes for moth cocoons

 

[Domanating]

The moisture and temperature of the outside weather are almost the same as in the room, except it doesn't rain inside, lol. Pretty much like letting them outside as wild mantis ooths. They will know when to hatch. I just need to worry about misting the ooths when humidity starts dropping. It already did btw. The humidity is now at 65%.

 

[MantidLord]

I consider incubation to start when they start experiencing warmer weather and longer hours of light. I know it's vague but I didn't leave my ooths outside or in my room so the shift from cold to warm was very sudden. But they were in the fridge from late November to last week, so about three months. And I misted the ooths occasionally throughout those three months. I'm wondering because spring break starts next week and I'm debating if I should leave the ooths here or take them with me and try to take care of those little guys on the rode.