My only male to make it looked like #2 the day before his final molt, so I'd say likely he will molt soon 
Psuedocreobotra wahlbergii
- Thread starter PhilinYuma
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patrickfraser
Well-known member
WOOT WOOT! #2 is a man!. It just happened this evening. I am leaving him alone to dry and color up. It looks like it was a good last molt. :clap:
Congratulations Scott!
Ruaumoko, I read about your experiment on the UK forum. When you are done, it would be nice to see photos of your adults a few weeks after the final molt to see if there is a difference. Since you successfully bred yours, I'd love to get advice. e.g, how long did you wait before mating? How did you incubate your ooth?
I wish I had these guys so bad!!! I'm looking for something cool, a bit challenging but is well worth the effort, these cuteys fit the bill!!! congrats to everyone who is doing such a great job with them
congrats to everyone who is doing such a great job with them
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PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Yes indeed, Scott, congrats! It is very interesting that though all of the nymphs owned by Tammy, Scott and me were hatched on the same day, mine are stil subadults; not one has eclosed to adulthood. What is yr feeding schedule, Scott? I have been feeding mine one bee per day for the last month or so, but most of mine got off to a bad start. I foolishly sold or traded most of my stock before realizing that I had almost none left, and most of my ten were salvaged from among AWOLs on the walls and a pot with a few starving nymphs that, fortunately for me, had rolled under the bed . The effect of food -- or lack of it -- on nymphs is of great interest to me, so I shall be interested to see if they are as prolific as other members'. I have always thought of flower mantids in nature as living on the top of bushes and snagging flying insects that get too close.Perhaps the white specklies on the wallies resemble some native flower, otherwise they would stick out like a sore thumb. Mine, however, tend to rest on the substrate, though each has a few palm fronds (bits of) to climb on. Also, like the Creobroters ("flesh eaters") that I have raised, their concept of "ambush predation" doesn't stop them from scampering after visible or audible (bees will often buzz in a loud and helpful way) prey and siezing them with those incredibly long raptorial arms.. Very different from, say, the Empusa style, which demands that the prey should come up and almost beg to be eaten. A very sedate and dignified bunch, they are.
@Young Alex: I was unclear when talking about "feeding bees". I meant, "feeding bees to mantids". As you know, bees normally eat their own honey (regularly stolen by humans who profess to love them so much), thouh honey bees are often fed coern syrup instead, a fact that sends my Sunny into a rage. I find, though, that if bees are not eaten fairly quickly, they die either of exhaustion or homesickness.
And when I get ooths from mine, I shall absolutely send you some nymphs; that's a promise! And in case anyone wonders, I have known Young Alex through thick and thin both here and on two other forums where he uses cunningly different signatures, so he gets special consideration!
. The effect of food -- or lack of it -- on nymphs is of great interest to me, so I shall be interested to see if they are as prolific as other members'. I have always thought of flower mantids in nature as living on the top of bushes and snagging flying insects that get too close.Perhaps the white specklies on the wallies resemble some native flower, otherwise they would stick out like a sore thumb. Mine, however, tend to rest on the substrate, though each has a few palm fronds (bits of) to climb on. Also, like the Creobroters ("flesh eaters") that I have raised, their concept of "ambush predation" doesn't stop them from scampering after visible or audible (bees will often buzz in a loud and helpful way) prey and siezing them with those incredibly long raptorial arms.. Very different from, say, the Empusa style, which demands that the prey should come up and almost beg to be eaten. A very sedate and dignified bunch, they are.@Young Alex: I was unclear when talking about "feeding bees". I meant, "feeding bees to mantids". As you know, bees normally eat their own honey (regularly stolen by humans who profess to love them so much), thouh honey bees are often fed coern syrup instead, a fact that sends my Sunny into a rage. I find, though, that if bees are not eaten fairly quickly, they die either of exhaustion or homesickness.
And when I get ooths from mine, I shall absolutely send you some nymphs; that's a promise! And in case anyone wonders, I have known Young Alex through thick and thin both here and on two other forums where he uses cunningly different signatures, so he gets special consideration!
U r on other forums? Interesting, never noticed u on the others I am on, maybe u use a different username and thanx for clearing up the bee issue my female popa also prefers fresh bees and I find the bees don't live long inside the house though it's too cold for bees now so it doesn't matter at the moment
Well keep us posted on the wahlbergii growth
Well keep us posted on the wahlbergii growth
patrickfraser
Well-known member
As for feeding...Whatever I have and often. Mostly BB and GB. The 5 females are taking small dubias now and should be sub sub adult, as they are needing an extra molt and my other 2 males are pre-adult molt fasting. I haven't really been tracking what or how much. I keep them plump and will feed one or two flies to start. If they eat those I'll give them a couple more.
Here's a photo of my first adult male. I can't wait to see the girls as adults. :tt1:
Here's a photo of my first adult male. I can't wait to see the girls as adults. :tt1:
lunarstorm
Well-known member
Nice pic!
patrickfraser
Well-known member
Thanks. Pardon the pun, but I seem to be getting the bugs out of my camera. Actually just learning to use it more accurately for what I need.
patrickfraser
Well-known member
I wasn't sure how I would do with my first wallies, so I ordered some other nymphs to be on the safe side. These are, I think, L2-L3 now. I have decided to do a little color experiment of my own on these from the early instars. I have used colored plastic cups (green and fluorescent yellow) with cut of bottoms and have placed them on the deli cup like sleeves with a clear viewing panel. I have 2 of each color. On the 3rd group, I found some WILD wallpaper that I am hoping will influence their coloring. We have had this wallpaper FOREVER. From the looks of it, probably the 60's. The colors are amazing with pinks, purples, reds, and greens. I wallpapered a portion of the inside of the cup with a lot left clear so I can see them well. I have seen photos on the UK forum with purple colors on them. I am hoping to get something totally wild. Time will tell. I guess my first 8 nymphs can be a testament to their "true" uninhibited coloring, which is quite diverse, and be considered the control group.
Here is a photo of the color experiment deli cups. I actually used the wallpaper to wrap baby shower gifts for my friend. I actually just "wallpapered" the boxes. She had to peel it off. LOL. Made my present stand out and I received many compliments on my "cleverness".
Here is a photo of the color experiment deli cups. I actually used the wallpaper to wrap baby shower gifts for my friend. I actually just "wallpapered" the boxes. She had to peel it off. LOL. Made my present stand out and I received many compliments on my "cleverness".
Very cool! I hope if I get some one day I can make different colors! I want to make an orange one because orange is my favorite color
patrickfraser
Well-known member
If all goes well, we should be swimming in them in the near future. It is a fascinating creature.
I agree! Awesome mantis! I take it they r prolific based on u saying u will be swimming in them, awesome! Keep us posted plz!!!
patrickfraser
Well-known member
There are a couple people here raising them. I hope I am swimming in them, but in case I'm not, there's a good possibility of them being more available than previously. I think with the people raising them now that this species will be more widely available. I have wanted one since I started here. It was just earlier this year, but when i want something, I GOTTA HAVE IT. AND..I couldn't get it. It was torture. :hang:
I see 2012 being the year of the wahlbergii. :clap:
I see 2012 being the year of the wahlbergii. :clap:
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All of my p. wahlbergii are now adults with perfect wings. The last two females just molted tonight. I ended up with 8 males and 6 females. I traded a pair of them and someone else contacted me about getting a male, but we haven't completed that transaction yet. I will be keeping the remaining ones for breeding stock for now. I am looking forward to breeding these so that I can have nymphs again!
Mantidsaresweet, Phil, & Scott: How are yours doing? It's been a while since some of you have posted an update on yours.
These seem to be a really hardy species or else Phil got some great stock. (Thanks, Phil!) I think about 80% of my L1/L2s made it to adults. I accidentally injured an L1 or L2 nymph that eventually died, had one disappear when I was traveling and only had one bad molt that was likely due to getting knocked down by a sibling. I wish they were all this easy!
Mantidsaresweet, Phil, & Scott: How are yours doing? It's been a while since some of you have posted an update on yours.
These seem to be a really hardy species or else Phil got some great stock. (Thanks, Phil!) I think about 80% of my L1/L2s made it to adults. I accidentally injured an L1 or L2 nymph that eventually died, had one disappear when I was traveling and only had one bad molt that was likely due to getting knocked down by a sibling. I wish they were all this easy!
patrickfraser
Well-known member
I now have 2 adult males with one male very close to molting and 1 female molted tonight (currently inflating her wings) with 4 to go very soon.
I have 5 younger nymphs (L3's?) that I am doing a color experiment with and I am sure I see some colors showing up already. :detective: I'm hoping to inhibit some major pinks and greens. Time will tell.
I have 5 younger nymphs (L3's?) that I am doing a color experiment with and I am sure I see some colors showing up already. :detective: I'm hoping to inhibit some major pinks and greens. Time will tell.
Congratulations! You now have an adult pair. I'm interested in seeing if your wahlbergii in your experiment maintain the colors after they molt to adults. Mine had different colored silk plants and had subtle color differences as nymphs. But a week or so after molting to adults, they all look the same to me. Perhaps I would still see subtle differences if I were to photograph each individual.
patrickfraser
Well-known member
When I went in this morning, the female molted perfectly and the last male was molted and inflating his wings. So all is well with 4 females to go. All wingbuds are swollen so it should be happening soon.
I'll keep updated on color experiment as they get older. Not too much color, yet. But I do "think" I see some subtle color differences being revealed.
I'll keep updated on color experiment as they get older. Not too much color, yet. But I do "think" I see some subtle color differences being revealed.
