L5?

[Dimity]

Qwinn moulted again so he's an L5 now? Am I counting that right?

 

[Braden]

If he was an L4 and he molted then yes

 

[Dimity]

Can you also count the segments?

 

[Braden]

I can't from the pics, but I believe that if you have 5 segments then female and 8 male, or something close. I have 2 of these guys and their camouflage makes it slightly more difficult when smaller.

 

[Dimity]

This one has been identified as male

 

[Braden]

Nice!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Definite male. If you can show me where the thorax connects to the abdomen I can tell you the instar.

 

[Dimity]

These are the best I can get so far. You need from underneath with abdomen down I suppose? He's pretty shy about being handled sometimes.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I meant from the top side. Can’t tell much from the legs.

 

[Dimity]

That might be even harder but I see what I can do. Shai just moulted too. She's only 3 days behind him now. The extra heat and food helped I think. Thanks.

 

[Dimity]

I don't know if these will do the trick, but heeeerrres Qwinn!!!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Yeah L5

 

[Dimity]

How can you tell from the picture?

 

[MrGhostMantis]

How can you tell from the picture?

No pre-sub wingbuds. Also, the development of the crest says it’s over L4. It wouldn’t be as intricate at L3-L4.

 

[Dimity]

OK, so how many more moults until he's an adult? Also if my female is the same instar, how far ahead of him does she have to get to mate the 2 of them?

 

[MrGhostMantis]

OK, so how many more moults until he's an adult? Also if my female is the same instar, how far ahead of him does she have to get to mate the 2 of them?

They both have 3 molts left. Male ghosts have the same amount of molts as females.

 

[Dimity]

Fantastic! Do you think it's OK to keep them together or should I keep him on the cooler side of the terrarium with the divider in the middle?

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Fantastic! Do you think it's OK to keep them together or should I keep him on the cooler side of the terrarium with the divider in the middle?

Don’t keep them together. You will risk cannibalism.

 

[Dimity]

OK, thanks again. As always you've been a big help

 

[Braden]

Check this out:

Ghost mantis development | Keeping Insects

www.keepinginsects.com