I cant feed my ghost mantis green/bluebottle flies, How do I get it to eat?

[DrippingPopsicle]

I am going to get a ghost mantis soon as my first mantis species, I have been researching feeders and I am prepared to feed flightless fruit flies, crickets, roaches or any other feeder insect that is commercially available at pet stores near my house. I cant order flies online at this time due to my current situation. Will ghost mantises tolerate being tong fed? I know that they are ambush predators so flying prey is preferred but would they be able to hunt and kill flightless prey?

 

[ColeopteraC]

I am going to get a ghost mantis soon as my first mantis species, I have been researching feeders and I am prepared to feed flightless fruit flies, crickets, roaches or any other feeder insect that is commercially available at pet stores near my house. I cant order flies online at this time due to my current situation. Will ghost mantises tolerate being tong fed? I know that they are ambush predators so flying prey is preferred but would they be able to hunt and kill flightless prey?

Feeder type is fairly unimportant. They’ll find prey either way, flies are preferred as they’ll usually find the mantis up on its perch (and fly takedowns are usually quite amazing) however they’ll easily hunt down terrestrial prey if they notice movement.

Tong feeding is unnecessary, it can give piece of mind (especially if a molt is anticipated) however in an average sized mantid enclosure the mantis should have no problem finding prey in a short time.