Shipping mantises and ooths

[OGIGA]

Did a search, didn't find what I wanted. Here it goes.

How do you guys ship mantises and ooths? How do you pack them? How big are the boxes? Do you include a few bugs for them to munch on during the trip? A few photographs from those who sell mantises will be helpful.

I don't have any mantises to ship right now, but I potentially will. I'd like to see how you guys do it.

 

[Ian]

Well, it is all pretty simple.

I use standard wine boxes (I get em from Sainsburys, they are the perfect box, maybe they should win an award some day.) I insulate the box with tight balls of newspaper, and put the mantis in the middle in a small cup. If it is a little cold, I tend to either use shedded papaer as well, or polystyrene around the outside of the box.

Ootheca wise, I simply wrap them in kitchen towel, put them in a film canister, wrap that in kitchen towel, and put it in a jiffy bag. Easy, and simple.

Hopes this helps!

 

[padkison]

I ship larger mantids in the containers they live in (32 oz deli or 50 dram vial). These containers have a strip of screen taped up one side for perching. When I ship, I add a piece of paper towel folded accordion/zig-zag like which runs top to bottom. I feel this adds a buffer in case the mantid gets dislodged.

Nymphs that are still communal are shipped in a cup or vial with a zig-zag paper towel for them to crawl on. I usually add fruit flies with nymphs.

I most my boxes from USPS. They will drop ship 25 pack bundles at your door for free. These are priority mail boxes in 2 sizes, 7x7x8 and 10x12x12 (or something like that). You can request shipment from USPS's website.

If you want to ship express, you must wrap the priority box or risk USPS rejecting your use of it for express. I use brown shipping wrap from Staples (inexpensive).

I cushion all containers within the box with crumpled newspaper.

I've received nymphs in small delli serving cups with a piece of paper towel set across the top of the lid and taped shut. This looks to work well also.

 

[OGIGA]

Thanks for the nice descriptions! Any photographs will be great.