Subject:       Concerns regarding a California mantis in my care
From:       "Kimahri T. Y
Date:       Fri, October 5, 2012 5:20 pm


Hello!  My name is Kim and I am in the care of three California mantises we caught
in the area, one male and two females.  The male and the older female were caught
when they were still nymphs, and I raised them to adulthood - they are both about
8-9 weeks old (since their final molt). The younger female I am speculating to be
about 4 weeks old past final molt (she seemed freshly molted when we caught her).

The younger female mated with the male at 2 weeks of age and produced her first egg
case after about one week.  She's very healthy and in good shape.

The older female is the one I am having troubles with.  She mated with the male at
the age of 4 weeks, and it's been over 4 weeks since she mated, and she still hasn't
laid any eggs. She's gotten VERY bloated, much more so than the younger female even
before that one laid eggs. She's extremely heavy and has trouble moving around due
to her weight.  She's been displaying behaviors that indicate that she intends to
lay eggs (she keeps climbing down onto a branch, facing downward, and she exercises
the end of her tail), but she seems to be unable to get the eggs to come out.

I am wondering if she either has an infection or that her passage is obstructed by
something. I read that the male mantis inserts a spermatophore into the female's
body during mating and it's supposed to leave the female's body after a few days. Is
it possible that it didn't leave this female's body and got stuck somehow? She was
already pretty bloated when she mated, and was therefore unable to clean the end of
her tail (the male was able to bend his abdoman forward for cleaning after mating,
but the female's abdomen was too bloated and her mandibles couldn't reach)

Thank you in advance for addressing my concerns. I can provide you with photos of
the mantises if it will help.

"Let knowledge and intellect guide our wisdom, so long as dreams and imagination
guide our hearts."                                              
 

Subject:       prayingmantis
From:       "Theresa B
Date:       Mon, October 8, 2012 6:30 am

have discovered that my praying mantis has deposited a cocoon on a basil plant in a
container in my front yard.  mother mantis is still active and present - can i move
this container or do i have to wait till spring when they hatch - please help me
here

Subject:       will a pet store accept my praymantis I found
From:       bdegrandchamp
Date:       Mon, October 8, 2012 7:20 am

I found a praying mantis yesterday outside in the cold and want to save it...but I
need to find a home. Will a pet store take a free praying mantis? I posted it on
Craigslist but no takers. Its 40 degrees outside in Michigan...i live in Livonia,
Mi. If I put it outside it will die. I am too emotional to keep it and plus I can't
keep feeding it crickets....I'm old and mostly a shut in. Any advice?


Subject:       Adult female
From:       "Shannon L
Date:       Wed, October 17, 2012 4:19 pm

Hi- I have most of my questions answered after reading your site. One
thing not covered is what kind of life span can be expected after a
female lays her eggs. A female mantis crawled through a torn screen on
a window coming partially into the house. I opened the window and
coaxed her into a carrier. My 2.5 yr old son loves to watch her. I
have offered her 'potato bugs' which she did not eat, a slug that I
think she ate because it is gone, and today she ate a fly. I gave her
a lady bug from outside too but don't know yet if she ate it. I am
planning to get her crickets tomorrow.
Overnight last night she laid her eggs, found the white frothy ball
inside the pet carrier this morning. I am in Grand Rapids, MI, and per
your recommendations intend to put the carrier with the eggs outside
tomorrow during the day to allow it to cool gradually as night falls,
rather than putting it directly outside into the cold tonight. The
eggs will then be protected and location known for spring and I can
keep a couple. I will move mom into a different container until she
passes. I am just curious if there is any idea how much longer she may
live.
She is brown in color, and quite large- about 10cm long. I am going to
assume the eggs are fertilized because we have found a couple of males
around the yard also this year.


Subject:       mantis question
From:       "Dale J
Date:       Mon, October 22, 2012 5:47 pm

I caught a mantis and made him a pet. He has suddenly stopped eating. His belly is
very big. I don't know if adults molt or if he is sick. Also, I know this is morbid,
but how do you dispose of them when they pass? If you have any answers I'd greatly
appreciate it. I've become attached to him.


Subject:       need help with mantis nest
From:       "Emily P
Date:       Mon, October 22, 2012 7:18 pm

Hello,

I am hoping you can help me. This praying mantis (pictured below) had been hanging
around our home for quite some time, & finally decided to make her nest right beside
our front door. The picture was taken about a week ago & she has since left. Because
it is so close to the door, we can't really use the door as I would hate  to harm it
in any way. I know from reading about the nests that they are pretty stable & can
hold up well. I almost have to move the nest if I can but I am afraid that I will
harm it. How can I safely move the nest (from where it is in the picture shown) &
where can I move it to? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Emily