Keeping some mantids

[packer43064]

Well first of all I have never done this before. I saw some oothecaes (egg cases) for sale on another site I frequent. I told my GF and we both agreed we had to have them!!

They are chinese mantis ooths. I got two of them. They should produce around 50-300 little L1 babies each. The chinese mantis came from China obviously, but they are everywhere in the wild in the U.S. now. I believe the U.S. brought some over to deal with some other bugs and you know how the story goes from there.

They cannabalize each other so the plan is to use this as an advantage. I will put a few mantids in a 32 oz. FF container and let them cannabalize until only one is left and feed them from there on. They will be eating FF's (fruit flies) when younger and turkistan roaches when older mainly.

I'm not worried if some dies from other reasons than cannabalizing, it's my first time so everything is new to me.

Pics!!!! Will update when they hatch and so on.

First ooth.

Second ooth.

Both of them in the FF containers. They now have paper towel which is soaked every few days on the bottom which raises humidty for them.

 

[yellowray91]

Cool i used to breed mantids. Pretty fun critters. When they hatch dip the tip of a toothpick in some honey its like katnip for mantids. Just be carefull not to cover them in it.

 

[packer43064]

Cool i used to breed mantids. Pretty fun critters. When they hatch dip the tip of a toothpick in some honey its like katnip for mantids. Just be carefull not to cover them in it.

I could see myself trying to feed a day old mantid and it being encased in honey and turned into a "Jurassic Park" amber stone like the doctor had. lol

This should be fun.

 

[jag123]

Sounds cool. I assume you bought them online - do you have a link to the website?

I've checked out many sites for various insects to raise(i.e. phantasmids and various moth/butterfly larvae) and I just flat out enjoy reading up on the stuff!

Good luck with them and keep us updated!

 

[packer43064]

Sounds cool. I assume you bought them online - do you have a link to the website?

I've checked out many sites for various insects to raise(i.e. phantasmids and various moth/butterfly larvae) and I just flat out enjoy reading up on the stuff!

Good luck with them and keep us updated!

Thanks. It is fun reading up, agreed there. Will update of course!!!

 

[coura]

If you would be carefull enough to distribute the larvae by groups of twenty in several cups you could endup with several adult insects that could even allow you the possibility of mating them and make a second generation I think its more fun than simply produce 2 of them

 

[snakeguy101]

Mantids are so cool. They have always been an animal I admired. Congrats and good luck.

 

[packer43064]

If you would be carefull enough to distribute the larvae by groups of twenty in several cups you could endup with several adult insects that could even allow you the possibility of mating them and make a second generation I think its more fun than simply produce 2 of them

Oh I will! I'm trying to start a small insect feeder business in my free time and having some mantid ooths on there and nymphs would be nice. I need to get raising them down first, but it's a thought to keep in mind.

Mantids are so cool. They have always been an animal I admired. Congrats and good luck.

Thanks.



Anyone know of a cheap place to get some Turkistan Roaches from? I don't need alot, I'd rather raise some adults or some mixed nymphs and get them for cheap than buy like 500 at once.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

http://www.nyworms.com/turkistan_roach.html
50$ here for 100 including shipping.

Let me see if I can find a cheaper price for 500.

 

[packer43064]

^^^^
Thanks, but I've already tried there. It was my first choice. I paid and everything and got a refund within 24 hours saying it was too cold where I'm at for shipping. So yeah, lol.