mantid nymph care/ID?

[Galapoheros]

I've got a large mantis ooth that is hatching now that I found in w tx last year. There are about 15 so far, some are eating pinheads. A couple of people have pointed me in the direction of the ooth being from a Stagmomantis sp. I had planned on keeping around 15, separating them soon and putting them in well ventilated delis with a lot of holes with a very thin layer of sand or peat with several twigs and then misting the deli sides once or twice a week. I haven't read about how to care for mantid nymphs, just using my own reasoning. I looked around a little but didn't find much, though I think I'm being a little lazy. I've kept several mantids but I've never raised nymphs before. Does this sound OK? Are there other things I should do? Since there is a lot of time between each one hatching, I'm guessing they should be separated because I was thinking the reason for that is so the ones that hatch walk away so they are less likely to start eating the others that are hatching. Anybody have some tips, recommendations? Also, anybody willing to take a stab at an ID?

 

[naturejoe]

baby mantids

What you are planning sounds good. Fruit flies are another good food source for the little guys. So long as you offer enough food you should be able to keep them together in groups. You should check out www.usamantis.com for more information. Good luck and sorry I can't help with the i.d.

 

[Galapoheros]

OK, thanks. I separated them. They seemed to be stressing each other out enough that they couldn't very well focus on catching a pinhead. I'm not getting a nail-down ID from other people that know their mantids. I'm getting "likelihoods" but nothing definite, prob Stagmomantis carolina. I may have to let them go through more molts before it's definite.

 

[hamfoto]

If you can get newborn crickets (super small pinheads) feed them those...they'll be able to eat them and take care of themselves.
It sounds like you'll be good with their care...just try to mimic the habitat of where you got them.

Chris

 

[Galapoheros]

They have been going strong on the pinheads. They are looking good. They weren't eating the pinheads in groups very well though. They seemed to be getting a little distracted by the other's movements. Since they've been separated, they have darkened and are eating fine.

 

[Galapoheros]

They've grown. Here's one from the same batch. I put in on a cactus bloom for a pic.

 

[Galapoheros]

Growing fast!

 

[Farom]

Nice! Looks like a subsubadult.

 

[Galapoheros]

Cool, you think one more? I was thinking two more. I still have the ootheca they hatched from. I know it's a Stagmomantis species. I know they bubble up insulation around the eggs but even so, it's hard to imagine that ootheca coming from one of these after only one more molt. I'm guessing two more. Still "looks" like a sub though, I understand that. I'll update. I just got the idea of taking a pic of the ootheca next to the biggest mantis from the ooth. I saw one Stag putting down an ooth and the ooth was about as big as it's ab, don't know what species it was though. You may change your mind after I take that pic. Or, maybe I will, we'll find out sooner or later.

 

[Galapoheros]

Red-line lol! I didn't realize how small the growth level was next to the ooth! I may have three to go. What do I have here, a hummingbird eater?! Sorry, wishful thinking. Maybe Stagmomantis californicus but only time will tell.

 

[Galapoheros]

Growth update. I'm starting to wish this was over, hard to go out of town but I can't give up now.

 

[Galapoheros]

They finally grew up. I've been posting pics on another site, ...maybe Stagmomantis limbata.