Nature is amazing. It is one of the few things which can be beautiful beyond measure and at the same time so brutal words have a tough time describing. We live in and are a part of nature. One of my hobbies since childhood has been to observe, capture and document insects. Specifically praying mantids! the last few years I have taken up breeding and raising exotic species of mantids. I will share some of my most memorable moments.
This is an adult color phased Rhombodera megaera female. You can see the leaf pattern on her wings which allows her to blend into her natural environment.
That same female with her male counterpart, who unfortunately after 3 solid days of being connected (breeding) also served as a nutrient dense meal JUST before I woke to find him half devoured. =( #circleoflife
Another Rhombodera but this is extensicollis species. Similar in size and one of the largest mantis species growing up to a whopping size of around 5 inches! Rhombodera are aggressive hunters, but still harmless to humans.
Some people who don't understand the mantis think they sting or bite! They do NOT sting and they don't bite! Often times a mantis will STRIKE out with its arms but this can cause no damage to human skin. Harmless but can give a scare! Don't be afraid of these guys. They mean no harm.
These are mantis eggs called Ootheca. Here you can see several different species of Ootheca, all fertile and laid by mantids in my care. Some of these sell for hundreds of dollars with nymphs hatching out of them by the dozens!
You can see here several mantis nymphs hatching out and exploring the world for the very first time! These guys get collected individually and placed in thier own tiny micro containers. Some species are communal and can be housed together. Even the most communal species will eat one another at this young age, so I house them one by one or two by two! Its a long tedious task, but it's worth it in the end. Some mantis nymphs sell for upwards of $30 a piece. You can get hundreds from one single Ootheca!
They are so tiny and cute at first! I do it for the joy, not the cash!
Hope you guys enjoy a little glimpse into my hobby of mantis! If anyone is interested in this stuff I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to ask questions or share your mantis stories. I'd love to hear em all!
