Unicorn Mantids L5 Eating Maggots (Video)

[Precarious]

A herd of unicorns! These things have some cool patterning and colors when seen up close. And I love the way their legs are curved like bent stems.

Hard to believe these wobbly-legged monstrosities are native to the south western United States.

Soundtrack by Precarious

 

[lancaster1313]

I like how the legs almost appear jointless.

 

[more_rayne]

Fantastic species!

 

[Ricardo]

What L will they get up to?

 

[Precarious]

What L will they get up to?

I believe they mature at L7, but that's what I thought about Idolos and Megas too. inch:

 

[MantisNation]

Awesome Footage. How many unicorns do you currently have?? Any spare males? I have 2 female (subadult i believe since 1 female's wing buds are starting to puff up) and no males :-/

 

[Precarious]

Awesome Footage. How many unicorns do you currently have?? Any spare males? I have 2 female (subadult i believe since 1 female's wing buds are starting to puff up) and no males :-/

I have 6 unsexed L5-L6.

What's the easiest way to sex them?

 

[sporeworld]

What's the easiest way to sex them?

Have you tried dimming the lights and using some candles...

Note: I spent 5 minutes reviewing all the great dirty jokes to follow that quote. It's just SO easy... How can I NOT swing at a softball like that...?

(I really TRIED to resist...)

 

[MantisNation]

Ah I see. At that age this species is fairly easy to sex, i keep mine in clear containers, so when they're well fed the abdomen is pumped up so you should be able to count the line segments rather easy with them. When you do let me know what you have, if theres a spare male i'll buy him off of you, or give you ooths from my females he mates with... whatever's best for you. If you'd like, PM me.

 

[Precarious]

Ah I see. At that age this species is fairly easy to sex, i keep mine in clear containers, so when they're well fed the abdomen is pumped up so you should be able to count the line segments rather easy with them. When you do let me know what you have, if theres a spare male i'll buy him off of you, or give you ooths from my females he mates with... whatever's best for you. If you'd like, PM me.

One molted to subadult this morning and the rest are soon to follow so I'll look into it after they molt and start eating again. They really grew with this molt!

 

[MantisNation]

Awesome. Definately, keep me posted. I greatly appreciate it. If you have any photos of your new sub, send em' this way, I'd love to see ;-)

 

[Precarious]

Awesome. Definately, keep me posted. I greatly appreciate it. If you have any photos of your new sub, send em' this way, I'd love to see ;-)

I'll get some video soon. The antennae kind of curve like bull horns now.

 

[MantisNation]

Niice. I just sexed mine, and it seems I was mistaken, they appear to be male & female. An obvious way to also sex is with their antennae. 1 of mines has thick antennae (male) and the other very thin (female) ;-)

 

[Precarious]

Niice. I just sexed mine, and it seems I was mistaken, they appear to be male & female. An obvious way to also sex is with their antennae. 1 of mines has thick antennae (male) and the other very thin (female) ;-)

Sweet! You're set then! And good to know about the antennae.