Woo hoo! First African Budwing has matured!

[Schloaty]

So last night I went downstairs to do the feeding.

And lo, I see the flutter of wings! My little male almost DOUBLED in size, and is now an adult! I was expecting at least another molting before this happened. He was scarcely over 1" (now he's just under 2").

I thought he's be a little bigger - but dang, is he pretty with his pinkish wings!

So, I pretty excited since this is the first time I've kept mantises in, oh, 20 years or so.

 

[asdsdf]

Yay, congrats!

 

[Rick]

You will find they tend to do that.

 

[Schloaty]

You will find they tend to do that.

Smartypants

You didn't complete the sentence. They tend to that if you don't kill them first.

I'm just happy I didn't kill him!

 

[Jayson16]

Congrats Schloaty.

 

[Precious]

Congratulations!

 

[OGIGA]

Congratulations! I'm surprised you haven't seen this before.

 

[Schloaty]

Og, I have actually seen this before - just not in 20 years (GADS! Am I THAT old?).

I used to keep wild-caught (chinese, I beleive) matids from Fire Island (near Long Island, NY), and raise a few of those to adult hood.

Man, those females are HUGE. :shock:

 

[Deutschherper]

Congrats, Schloaty!

 

[OGIGA]

Ah, I thought you meant you have been keeping them for 20 years.