Chinese mantid egg case

[rknralf]

Well, after about 3 months in captivity, my Chinese mantid died, but not before producing 2 egg cases. Now comes the question of what to do with them? I would like to hatch them out and release them in the spring, but I don't know how long the incubation time is or really what to expect.
If anyone would care to share some information, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Ralph

 

[Wade]

Ralph-

If you keep them indoors, they'll hatch in around 30 days, way too soon to release them, and if you want to keep them all, you'll be faced with the prospect of setting up several hundred individual cups, for they will canibalize heavily!

You can, however, postphone hatching either by putting them outside (in a place where you'll know where to find them later) or else in the refridgerator. If you opt for the fridge, you may want to put them in a deli cup or ziploc bag to prevent dessication. In March, you can bring them in (or take them out, depending) and set them up in a terrarium with a screen lid. Fine screen, they'll easily slip through hardware cloth lids. When they hatch, it should be safe to release them at that point, and save a few to raise if you want.

Wade