Empusa pennata - any special cares?

[AlbertK]

While hunting for something to feed a centipede I got a few weeks ago, I found three Empusa pennata, and I'd like to give them the best treatment possible.

Since I found them in my backyard, I guess there's not much to think about - I should just give them what they have outside. But still, any suggestion from professional people is better than just guessing...

Thanks!

 

[RVS]

Lucky you.
I have no experience with this species, very interesting-looking though.
You can always try here: http://www.mantidforum.com/

 

[Steven]

I don't keep any mantis anymore,.. but i had a bunch of E.pennata nimphs and raised them to adult by feeding them prekilled crix served on a tweezer,...

as i remember they usually only feed on flying insects ?,... i don't like flies or moths etc... so i hand-fed them,... worked fine for me.


guess the Mantis-experts can give you better advice.

 

[Raqua]

I have kept Empusa sp. which I caught in Greece. There was no problem until they were in they preultimate stage. Then all my specimens died (8). Later I found out, that in this stage they need to hibernate (winter?). I am pretty sure that it would be the same with yours.

 

[AlbertK]

You can always try here: http://www.mantidforum.com/

Didn't know that one :8o I'll try it right away.

It's the first time I ever heard of a hybernating mantis... But the ones I caught look younger than they should for this time of the year, so it's probably true.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Jesse607]

I believe Empusa pennata does indeed need to go through a cold period to break its diapause. I'm not sure which stage or stages of nymphs go through diapause, but I believe they need to be kept at 10C or 50F for 6-8 weeks at least. Good luck.

 

[Wade]

Funny-

I wasn't familliar with this species, so I did a google image search to see what it looked like and the first thing that came up was this:

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ges?q=Empusa+pennata+&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=G

At first glance I was like WHOA! and then I realized what I was actually looking at...

Wade

 

[Steven]

At first glance I was like WHOA! and then I realized what I was actually looking at...

Wade

LOL

 

[PERIKIN]

when they are not adults still,they accept all kind of food,but when they are subadults they use to eat more than other things flies,the same when they are adults,i had some empusas and never saw them hibernate.
sorry for my bad english.
here yoy have a pair of photos from a beautiful male.
regards!!

 

[Stylopidae]

Funny-

I wasn't familliar with this species, so I did a google image search to see what it looked like and the first thing that came up was this:

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ges?q=Empusa+pennata+&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=G

At first glance I was like WHOA! and then I realized what I was actually looking at...

Wade

Wade, those are all over here in Iowa. Just saw one in my house not too long ago. Not too hard to breed, all you need is paper ;P

Beautiful mantis, by the way