Runt?

[rs4guy]

So I have a Chinese, just molted to adulthood, BUT she's less than 3 inches long? Definitely a Chinese, definitely an adult, and definitely no longer than 3". Ever seen this before? Discuss.

 

[yen_saw]

Maybe what you have is Tenodera angustipennis, which is usually smaller.

 

[rs4guy]

No way, I raised the mother, and this one came from that ooth.

 

[Fichte]

If u keep them hungry and keep them cold they dont get as large as they could

So the reason is u

 

[dlemmings]

not always...I had a runt, siblings were bigger (maybe the stronger got more food?) even though the temps were consistant and there was plenty of food.

 

[rs4guy]

I kept her in the high 60's low 70's, and she had plenty fo food throughout her life, varied between flies, crix, and mealworms....All dusted with pollen.

 

[ismart]

There are size variations in all species. I once caught a wild adult female chinese mantis that was less then two and a half inches. She was so small! :blink:

 

[patrickfraser]

I have a small female ghost that looks even too small to be able to breed successfully with a male. It just happens.

 

[rs4guy]

OK, fair enough, I just found it odd, and aparently it is, but odd things happen. Thanks fellas.

 

[minard734]

That is TINY! I've seen many Chinese and I've never seen one below 3 inches. I've seen them slightly over 3 but no LESS. That is shocking. Can I see pics of this one next to others?

 

[happy1892]

There are size variations in all species. I once caught a wild adult female chinese mantis that was less then two and a half inches. She was so small! :blink:

Wow!

 

[happy1892]

The smallest one I had was 94mm long. I gave it too my friend because I wanted to breed the biggest ones.

 

[yen_saw]

No way, I raised the mother, and this one came from that ooth.

Then you just have one which is smaller than other. Size variation as Paul (Ismart) stated.

 

[rs4guy]

Smaller is an understatement! I was just suprised at how much of a variation there was.

 

[agent A]

maybe it was just BORN THAT WAY!!!

i've had small ones before, had a hierodula male skip a molt (though rebecca may have accidentally sent me a subadult male cilnia, though i'm not sure)

and my old male popa was smaller than my new one

just variation

 

[Rick]

I had two from the same ooth once and one was an adult and the other was like L3. It can happen.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I think you meant petite, not runt. You can't call a pretty lady mantis a runt. Now if it was a boy mantis, then feel free to call him a runt, shrimp, small fry, or so on.

 

[sinensispsyched]

My male chinese was 2.75 inches long, which was a full .75 inches longer than the two males that ismart gave me.