Praying Mantis questions

[Sharno]

Are they pretty much only found as nymphs in Spring/Summer, or in CB circles is there breeding year round?

Do they only live about a year, or have they been observed to live longer in captivity?

Are they legal to buy? I used to be able to buy them in the LPS about 10 years ago but don't see them any more; I have seen a few sources online (for the actual mantids, not eggs, which are readily available).

Thanks!

 

[skittle]

Legal?!

I am not too sure about the other questions but they are defo legal I have previously had a giant african mantid and an orchid one and currently own an indian flower mantis, well unless your in a flat where no animals allowed maybe not such a good idea!!! hehehehe

 

[macbaffo]

I don't know about your country but CB should.be legal without doubts. They are not venomous or dangerous to humans so there shouldn't be problems.

I confirm.they live around one year...

 

[Tarac]

I'm not entirely sure about legality in the US. All the domestic/established exotic species are certainly legal although each state may have it's own shipping requirements for inverts of any/all kinds.

But I know what you are saying- used to be available not long ago. Then they disappeared. I have searched extensively for information regarding this but have failed to come up with any concrete documents that qualify them as legal or illegal, just the usual ambiguous government information that may or may not be used to ban them.

I have read in non-official places that exotic mantids were found to carry a plant pathogen, a type of fungus I believe, and were banned at that stage. But I cannot find the documents from any of the relevant government agencies that states this anywhere. It would appear to be true judging by sudden the limited availability some number of years ago however generally the only folks who refer to such a ban are people who are marketing and selling large volumes of native mantis for natural pest control. I would greatly appreciate if anyone can put that question to rest one way or the other. And by that I don't mean just stating "I know for sure they are/are not legal," I'm looking for the actual legislation or document from an official agency to clarify this. I don't think it exists but the possibility it might has prevented me from investigating mantis further. I know you can get them online just like anything else your heart desires, regardless of legality. But I don't personally want to get involved if there is some legal issue going on, know what I mean?

 

[Sethu]

Just to answer your other questions:

There is captive breeding year round, I believe. But that may require more research as I am not a mantis breeder, but have purchased nymphs in the winter.

It is rare for a mantis to live longer than a year, the longest I've heard of was a year and a few months, so they aren't known for their long lifespans. Also, they are completely legal as far as I know but it is illegal to release a non native species; what I'm saying is, as long as you don't release it, you'll be fine.

 

[persistent]

I used to breed a lot of mantis species. CB comes year round. Here in europe there's still quite a lot of them. Haven't really seen a decline here lately.
They do usually live about a year. My longest living mantis was a Heterochaeta orientalis which lived to be 19 months. When you lower their feeding regimen and temps a little you can prolong their lives a little bit. But don't expect them to live very long. Just do some breeding and that won't really be a problem you have too much of them in no time.