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Preying Mantis
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Posted by MelanieV LongIsland/z6b (My Page) on Tue, Jun 22, 04 at 11:21
| Been checking the preying mantis cases every day with no sitings yet of hatchlings. Anybody see any yet?
I found 9 egg cases in my Spanish lavender early this spring and put them in different parts of the garden. Always have an abundance of preying mantis here. They seem to love my garden.
Melanie |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I only have one that I could see in the mass of climbing roses on the side of the house. Since it started leafing, I haven't checked on it so I'm not sure if anything's happening. But they seem to love my red coleus and I made three pots of them this year. Below is a picture of one of the little guys from last year. I really love that they hang out every year. Did you know that they are, in fact, NOT (or never have been) on the endangered species list? It's an old wives tale. I did a lot of research when I found them in my garden, and haven't found any proof that they were ever endangered. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Green on Red
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I have about 4/5 egg cases. Mine love the lavender also. They seem to deposit mainly on woody stems. I have not seen any babies yet, although I look almost every day now. I was told they need a certain amout of degree days....a certain amount of days, above a specific temperature, in order to hatch. I usually see them mid June, but we did have more cool days than usual this Spring(at least it seemed that way).I would expect to see them hatching any day now. |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I spotted my first one of the season. Like finding a needle in a haystack!! About 1 1/2" long, hopping on a mat of dianthus......how cool is that! I also just had a hummer at my monarda. This is why I garden!!!!! |
RE: Preying Mantis
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- Posted by Donn_ Z 7, seaside,NY (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 21, 04 at 9:17
| I've been here for 7 years now, and have never seen either a mantis or a hummer. Bummer. I do, however, have a whole troop of Cardinals, at least 4 pairs, hanging out in my sunflower patch? How do they know?? |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I believe a good portion of the mantis egg cases winter killed . |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| Donn, I had read somewhere a while back, that mantis, as well as butterflies, are sensitive to spraying, pesticides,etc. So, I try to keep my property as chemical free, or natural as possible. I have alot of plantings specifically to attract certain types of birds for nesting, shelter,food, and even for waiting in line to get to the bird bath. And even part of my property has been a magnet to birds of prey, because of the layout of the large bordering trees and their view of the bird feeders. Some unique birds have come to visit only once, or maybe for a few days in a row, never to be seen again. The interesting thing about hummers, is that they almost look like dragonflies because of their speed and size. I have to do a double take each time I spot one. I have had no luck with the feeders for hummers, but do better with flowers. As far as the mantis go, I've had my house 10 yrs and that is how long I've seen them here. I do try and keep them away from one another by moving them to different parts of the yard so they don't feast on one another. Have you tried ordering any of their cases to see if that would work? I wish I could tell you something that would work, but I guess you'll have to be patient. |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I had caught a preying mantis approx. 2 weeks ago and put it into a terrarium. The first day I had it in there it ate about 8 crickets out of 2 dozen. I have since put all kinds of little edible bugs in there and they seem gone. Now it has laid an egg sack. What are the chances this will hatch? How long can I expect this mantis to live? |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| I'm not an entemoligist but I have heard of mantis staying alive indoors as pets. I would think the egg sack would be better outdoors so it hatches the way nature intended. If they hatch indoors, you will have hundreds of mantis all looking for food, and as we know, they do have a tendency to munch on one another.If the egg case was laid on a twig, this can be tied securely to another twig outdoors. Sometime around June it will hatch....then again, your in Chicago, so who knows when it will warm up ;) . |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| The life cycle of a Praying Mantis is from spring to fall of one year during which time the female mates (sometimes eating her partner during copulation) lays an ootheca (egg case) and is killed by winter cold. The ootheca develops depending on warmth/degree days (not daylight hours) and releases hundreds of hungry mantid nymphs looking for food. Who knows how long an adult praying mantis may live if kept warm and fed, a year? One thing is for sure, the egg case will hatch if you keep it indoors (did it myself when I was a kid). Some people do breed and rear them so I guess it's possible. Myself I'd follow softfurn's advice and put the eggcase out of doors, keep an eye on it when it gets warm. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Here's a page on rearing them
RE: Preying Mantis
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| Would you believe, Nov 1, and a PM is sunning on my porch!! |
RE: Preying Mantis
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| Thank you very much for the comments. I will put the egg cases (2 now) outdoors in a safe place and watch for babies in the spring. The Mantis I have is captivating to watch because it almost seems to have an interest in me when I come to the terrarium to look at it. Again thanks for the responses. |
RE: Preying Mantis
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- Posted by KWoods Cold z7 Long Is (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 10, 04 at 9:41
| "it almost seems to have an interest in me when I come to the terrarium to look at it." Maybe it wants to eat you! Mulching and cleaning out perennial beds last weekend found at least 10 egg cases. Two on one branch in the Asclepias incarnata, four or five in the Joe Pye Weed, a few in the mock orange. Should have lots more next year as long as the neighbors don't spray. Nice having these guys around. Not sure whether they're helping me in my garden or I'm helping them in theirs |
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