Some pics from today

[meaganelise9]

Because people like pics, right? There's a lot of molting going on this week. This is my li'l Budwing (female I'm assuming). She came from mantispets. Cute.

This is an L3 Oxyothespis dumonti (hard to capture with my point-and-shoot). This is the best I can do for now. They really blend in well with excelsior.

I call this guy Krieger. He's one of my two Oxyopsis gracilis males. I got them at the same time, but they've grown at very different rates. This one molted to adult yesterday. He's a cutie.

 

[happy1892]

The Budwing looks like my Indonesian Double Shield Mantids.

 

[agent A]

The budwing looks like a delicious brownie

Oxyposis is sooooo cute!!!

 

[lunarstorm]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing!

Has your male oxy started flying around yet? Mine was a surprisingly adept; I was impressed by both his speed and mid-air acrobatics.

 

[meaganelise9]

No, but he just molted. I did make sure the cat was locked out of the room just in case! Actually none of my bugs have ever taken off. My Blepharopsis only flaps his wings at like, 1am when I'm in bed.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Very nice shots! But from the shape of your budwings abdomen I would say 95% chance its a male, I've had more than I could count.

 

[meaganelise9]

haha oh. It looked wide to me, but it's my first Budwing.

 

[Chivalry]

The Budwing looks like my Indonesian Double Shield Mantids.

I thought the same thing... except for the shape of the abdomen.

Those are some cuties... I love the Oxys, they are a nice size and just too cute.

 

[meaganelise9]

Yeah, they've become a favorite quickly.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

I could be wrong(hard to tell always from pics), it's just that the males have a very diamond shaped rear and the females are more rounded and noticably larger than males.

 

[Precarious]

Very cute! My Oxys started molting to adult this week too. Ooths soon...

 

[Mvalenz]

I received my budwing from there too. Maybe they're related. The Oxyopsis gracilis looks amazing. Very cute.

 

[Chivalry]

Are you planning on keeping them communal as adults?

 

[meaganelise9]

I don't think so. I separated them a while back when they started growing at much different rates just to be safe.

 

[Chivalry]

No, but he just molted. I did make sure the cat was locked out of the room just in case! Actually none of my bugs have ever taken off. My Blepharopsis only flaps his wings at like, 1am when I'm in bed.

Oh my god I dread this... Otto the cat will take any flying mantids as a personal challenge. Last year he snagged a HUGE cicada and carried it it around for half an hour - IT was buzzing madly and HE was growling (MY giant bug!). Perhaps adult males will need their own room just in case

LOL about the Blepharopsis.. one reason I haven't relocated anyone to the bedroom.

 

[meaganelise9]

Oh man. I made the mistake of raising some butterflies as feeders the last couple weeks. Cat nightmare! He was obsessed until they all ceased to be... I'll stick to sedentary wax moths!

 

[minard734]

Very nice! I love those!

 

[meaganelise9]

Very nice shots! But from the shape of your budwings abdomen I would say 95% chance its a male, I've had more than I could count.

Ha. You were right..