Caring for Praying Mantises?

[Tarantuloid]

Although they are short lived, I really do like them, and I wanted to check in and see if anyone has any personal experience caring for basic mantis species. I hear they are very easy to care for, but I had a few questions regarding mantis care:

How often do they eat?

Are they hardy similar hissing cockroaches or G. Roseas when it comes to room temperature?

Is breeding easy?

Although I hear they are good for eating pest, do they cause any sort of damage if released?

The species I'm looking to buy is the African Lined Mantis

 

[buddah4207]

I had a few Mantis religiosa when I was living in California that I kept outside in a mesh cage ment for a chameleon. The temps ranged from around 60F to 90F. I fed medium crickets twice a week I usually just threw around 5 or 6, they cage was big so the mantis just took its time hunting all of them. I obtained a male eventually ( they would fly into the light at night like moths) and put him with the female. It took two males to get a successful breeding (she ate the first one) but I did get a egg sac out of it. I never got to see it hatch out though... I hope this helps with your efforts. good luck

 

[Tarantuloid]

Thank you for your help, I've considered breeding them, but I suppose I should start off with just one and develop some personal experience.

 

[bugmankeith]

Newborns eat fruit flies and eventually pinhead crickets and then larger crickets and other smaller insects. They need good to be misted with water for good humidity. If they are found in your area already no harm raising local species and releasing them when they mature so they can reproduce in the wild.

I've never actually raised them in captivity bu this is what I heard, they also can be cannibalistic so mabye try only 2 or 3 to raise and feed them REALLY good.

 

[Moonfall]

I wouldn't keep them together because they sometimes fight and can be territorial. Also, don't leave crickets with them. I have lost two this way when I left them with others when I was out of town. If they don't take it right away (I hold food in front of mine) they probably won't, try again later.

In terms of care the natives here do fine in a cage with climbing materials that is kept dry and misted once in a while depending on how often they are eating. The mist is not to moisten the cage but for water. You could also keep a small dish in there for them.

 

[poisoned]

You don't have much to lose if you try to breed in autumn. With mantids you are almost forced to breed if you don't want to spend money every year.

 

[Moonfall]

Poisoned is right, they will die even if not bred.

The females make neat egg sacks though! The babies are very fragile and very, very cute.

 

[Tarantuloid]

Yeah I managed to find two Chinese praying Mantis a few days ago, sure, they don't live long, but this is kinda for fun and the experience of raising mantid species.

Don't worry, I won't be keeping them together, I already have separate terrariums for this pair and a place for the nymphs if I ever do breed them. The reason I was asking about releasing is I read somewhere that Chinese Mantises were introduced in the U.S. for natural pest control. In my backyard garden, I've been looking for something to eat all the mosquitoes and the aphids, they say their beneficial insects, but is this legal?

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Chinese Mantises were introduced in the U.S. for natural pest control. In my backyard garden, I've been looking for something to eat all the mosquitoes and the aphids, they say their beneficial insects, but is this legal?

Chinese and European mantids are already naturalized in your area and you can legally order oothecae from within the continental US for release just like ladybugs and lacewings. They are primarily useful for larger prey.
As for husbandry, have you considered getting a booklet on keeping mantids? http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Manti...r=8-1&keywords=praying+mantids+keeping+aliens

 

[Tarantuloid]

I heard that Chinese Mantis were introduced in the U.S. because they were good pest control, but I wasn't sure if that varied where in the Us.S as I'm from Texas. I figured I'd ask people on here who might know a little more about legally releasing mantises in your backyard or garden.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

The name versions follow a long story but mantids used to all be in the order Orthoptera and all were family mantidae (and the technical common name would follow) but as an order families were elevated and many aren't mantid or mantids technically but then common names aren't always technical.

 

[Tarantuloid]

Thanks for the information, I managed to squire three egg cases of Chinese mantis and two live nymphs. The two nymphs I will be keeping indoors, and the rest I want put around my garden for the spring and summer.

Do you think the mantises will find enough food to thrive in a typical garden or backyard? I see some during the day (aphids especially) but at night is when I see a lot of the flies and the moths and such due to the light.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Yes, but die off in nature is high as evidenced by the large number of offspring.
I just got this book in the mail yesterday...

 

[Tarantuloid]

Yeah that's what I was curious, I have three egg sacs (each containing 100-200 nymphs), do you think enough will survive that they at least one or two pairs will breed and make another egg sac for the following spring?

 

[poisoned]

I'd wait for oothecae to hatch in my care and then disperse nymphs around. Or even better, grow as many as possible out of nymph stage and then release them.

 

[Tarantuloid]

You make a good point, my original plan was to follow the directions and disperse the oothacae around my garden and let them hatch on their own. But you're right, maybe I should raise them first until they're at least big enough to pose a real threat to other creatures.


When you order live animals like mantises off the internet from a breeder, I'm guessing they usually ship them overnight? Or how long does it usually take?