Got in one of "those" packages yesterday! - Page 2

albertagirl · 06-07-16, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charis

One's eye becomes very good at spotting them quite quickly! And yeah, a lot of care and caution is needed when handling them but they are brave and fairly smart little critters.
They seem to realize that people are alive but no particular danger to them. They seem to like to watch people and want to climb us. They can be difficult to get back into the cage in fact, because they try to stay on the hand holding them.
They can move quickly when they need to but don't run from you and stay still enough that it's only a small worry over inadvertently crushing one while handling.

I find it happens a LOT while cruising these forums that I learn new things I didn't know I didn't know. It's hard to research or ask questions when you don't even know where the holes in your knowledge are, but just reading everything I can get my hands on has offered me a lot of interesting information I never would have found otherwise. This is one of those times. I knew nothing about these little guys until this thread. I'm finding it fascinating. Thanks for sharing!!

Charis · 06-16-16, 06:53 PM

Took some more pictures over the last few days.

Charis · 06-16-16, 06:55 PM

Charis · 10-04-16, 03:43 PM

One of the remaining 4 mantids molted into an adult a few days ago, so I took some pictures of all of them. Got 3 greens and a light brown one, I believe 3 females and 1 male, though I'm not sure about that.

Charis · 10-04-16, 03:44 PM

JellyBean · 10-04-16, 07:14 PM

That is so wild!
Where are they indigenous? Makes me think I step on them without even knowing

I am having difficulty discerning what is a head, eye, mouth...

So very intriguing!!

macandchz · 10-04-16, 07:26 PM

i have never seen anything like these. the only praying mantis i've ever seen is big and green and look like leaves.

Charis · 10-04-16, 07:33 PM

These are an African species and much longer lived than the ones native to the US. They are also much smaller, as adults.

This is more or less what the native US species look like, though I think there are actually several different kinds here and they have some slight differences in appearance. They hatch out about the size of a largish ant and get around 3-4 inches long. Picture courtesy of Google.

JellyBean · 10-04-16, 08:05 PM

Now THATs what I know! A praying mantis, protected by law. Illegal to kill them in the US.

Yours are amazing little creatures. How long do your African mantis live?

Charis · 10-04-16, 08:15 PM

They are called Ghost mantis and can live up to 18 months.

BobBarley · 10-04-16, 09:47 PM

Lots of species (Mantis religiosa, Tenodera sinensis, etc.) are in the US but aren't native here. The one pictured above looks like a Mantis religiosa so not really native to the US lol. They've been brought here by nurseries and people who buy the eggs at their local gardening store thinking they are pest controllers, when really, they eat many bees and butterflies and wreck the ecosystem.

I used to be in the mantis hobby but I stopped because of how fragile they are and how expensive of a hobby it is (comparing to tarantulas and other inverts). Was always intrigued by this species as they are communal and I've witnessed firsthand how cannibalistic most other species are. Maybe one day I'll get a colony of these guys set up.

Awesome specimens and good luck with getting the others to adults!

EDITED TO ADD: Found this quote on a website and found it interesting...

Wild Maryland 101: Amazing Maryland Bugs: Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

"A common mantis myth is that mantises, often described as praying mantises, are protected or endangered species and it is illegal to kill them. This myth was probably perpetuated by the relative rarity and impressiveness of mantids when compared with other more apparent garden insects, as well as their reputation as beneficial predators and therefore "good bugs."

Chinese and European (praying) mantises are non-native in origin and are not protected at all. In fact, even in their countries of origin, they are very common and their numbers are stable. Because they are non-native and may prey on native creatures, including native butterflies, bees, Carolina mantises, and even hummingbirds, Maryland ecosystems may benefit from fewer of these introduced predators.

Carolina mantises are native, but do not get any specific legal protection. In certain areas, such as state or national parks, it is illegal to kill any organisms without proper licensing or permission. In one's own backyard or garden, there is no legislation protecting the Carolina mantis. However, as a efficient native predator that plays an important role as an insect predator, and one that is completely harmless to humans, the Carolina mantis certainly deserves our respect and should not be killed out of fear or frivolity. South Carolina has even gone as far as to honor the Carolina mantis as its state insect!"

dannybgoode · 10-04-16, 10:58 PM

Very neat. Whilst I may not suffer from nail envy I am certainly suffering from mantis envy!

JellyBean · 10-05-16, 03:14 PM

Charis: no offense to your beautiful ghost mantis! I find it hard to keep pets that have such a small life span, but it is very interesting indeed!

Bob: Thank you for the info. I love to learn new things, and guess I got caught up in the myth. I have been told that since I was a child! (Not that I would kill anything, especially something so beautiful)

Danny: LOL!

marvelfreak · 10-05-16, 04:25 PM

Wow those are so freaking amazing looking.

**Tsubaki** · 10-07-16, 01:28 AM

Those looks very cool! Never been much into mantis keeping but they sure are impressive