- Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:42 am
#212324
[08.09.14]
Finally managed to source a subadult pair of this beautiful Hierodula sp..
I had a pair of 3rd/4th instar nymphs before but they both died from moulting problems (+ some others). All the ones affected to have some degree of difficulty in initially 'splitting' the skin at the back and even the ones that managed to do so soon became trapped in their thick, rigid exoskeleton. I suspect it was due to me switching their diet to Hermetia illucens larvae and adults as an experiment. The problem probably wouldn't have risen if I had just used the adult flies... but I used the smaller larvae as well which are known to be very high in calcium to feed the smaller instars. I've heard that excessive amounts of calcium in a mantids' diet causes their exoskeleton to grow too thick and I think that's what happened to my previous pair.
...
Anyway, both the male and the female moulted to adult in transit and even managed to expand their wings properly without damaging them. The only apparent 'injuries' the female seems to have are a bent antenna and small indents in the eyes. (probably was knocked around a bit while she was hardening up.
Female:
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Male:
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Colouration of their chest and the insides of their coxa+femur.
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Finally managed to source a subadult pair of this beautiful Hierodula sp..
I had a pair of 3rd/4th instar nymphs before but they both died from moulting problems (+ some others). All the ones affected to have some degree of difficulty in initially 'splitting' the skin at the back and even the ones that managed to do so soon became trapped in their thick, rigid exoskeleton. I suspect it was due to me switching their diet to Hermetia illucens larvae and adults as an experiment. The problem probably wouldn't have risen if I had just used the adult flies... but I used the smaller larvae as well which are known to be very high in calcium to feed the smaller instars. I've heard that excessive amounts of calcium in a mantids' diet causes their exoskeleton to grow too thick and I think that's what happened to my previous pair.
...
Anyway, both the male and the female moulted to adult in transit and even managed to expand their wings properly without damaging them. The only apparent 'injuries' the female seems to have are a bent antenna and small indents in the eyes. (probably was knocked around a bit while she was hardening up.
Female:
Untitled by darkrai283, on FlickrMale:
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on FlickrColouration of their chest and the insides of their coxa+femur.
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Untitled by darkrai283, on Flickr
Last edited by Darkrai283 on Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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