What do praying mantises eat? What to feed the praying mantis with? Detailed analysis of food items What do little praying mantises eat at home

The praying mantis is a charming insect that is widespread in the world. He is an excellent choice as a pet. Even people who don't like bugs can be persuaded to enjoy the antics of the mantis. For example, did you know that he turns his head to look over his shoulder (in fact, this is the only insect that can do this!)? There are praying mantises different colors, for example pink as a flower (orchid mantis - Hymenopus Coronatus) and white, although most are brown or green. The kind of praying mantis you can keep depends on where you live and whether you picked up a mantis from the street or purchased it from an exotic pet store. Growing a praying mantis is pretty easy and fun. You can probably learn a lot more about this unique and interesting insect just by watching its daily antics.

Steps

Part 1

Find a praying mantis

Find a praying mantis. The praying mantis is found in many parts of the world, some species were brought to Russia and the CIS countries and since then began to adapt to new conditions. If you know they are found in your area, try to find a wild mantis. Praying mantises are typically about 7–8 cm long, mostly brown or green in color, and look the same as sticks and leaves, making them blend in well with their surroundings.

• Look in places where there are many green bushes, crickets and butterflies. These are some of the mantis' favorite foods.
• Look carefully. These little insects are masters of disguise. Most are long and green. Some of them may be thick and gray or even pinkish. Some look like flowers, but these species are most commonly found in Africa and Asia. Try to imagine the mantis pretending to be part of the plant, and it will be a little easier to find.

1. Purchase a container for a praying mantis. Buy a small container and plant a praying mantis in it as soon as you find it. The container shouldn't be very large - a 15 x 15 cm square container should fit most praying mantises. The container should be well ventilated and preferably made of mesh or wire mesh so that both the praying mantis and its prey have something to cling to. It must also be protected from above. Never use a container that contains chemicals.

   Catch the praying mantis. You probably won't need gloves if you don't mind touching insects. Just place an open container in front of the mantis. Move the insect to the container with a twig or hand if you are comfortable with it. The mantis should soon enter the container willingly. Close the top off as the mantises are smart and will use every opportunity to escape.

   Buy a praying mantis. If you can't find a praying mantis, or if they just don't live in your area, visit your local pet store and ask if they can get a specific mantis for you. This can give you more flexibility in choosing a species - it all depends on the legislation in your country regarding the import of insects and keeping them as pets.

   Part 2

   Prepare a home for the praying mantis

   Part 3

   Feed your praying mantis right

   1. Feed your praying mantis properly. The nutritional requirements of a praying mantis vary depending on their stage of growth, although, in general, they do not need much food.

      Spray water around the praying mantis to provide water. Take a spray bottle and spray the grates of the mantis cage. If the cage is not wire, then simply pour water into the cap of the bottle and have the mantis drink from it. Remember, praying mantises love to hang from something, so stick a stick or something like that next to the drinker.

      Remove leftover food from the mantis' home. Praying mantises are not the most tidy eaters, after feeding them there will be debris, including legs, wings, hard parts that insects do not like, etc., and all this must be cleaned up daily. If debris builds up, it can stress your pet, preventing it from surviving in the built environment.

      • When scrubbing away any leftover food, also remove the pellet-shaped mantis feces.

   Part 4

   Maintain the praying mantis properly

   Part 5

   Treat the praying mantis right

   1. Handle insects with care. The praying mantis is a fragile insect, no matter how strong it seems. Be careful when picking it up as there is some risk of crushing the insect with overly enthusiastic squeezing. In addition, the praying mantis can defend itself by thrusting its paws into the host. This will probably surprise you more than it will hurt you, but for the insect it is definitely a stressful situation in which it can become defensive. There is a solution - reach out with your palm, finger, or upper hand and let the insect rise at its own pace. Be patient!

      • When cleaning a mantis cage, don't be afraid to pick it up. Wear gloves if you want.

   2. Don't be afraid to play with and pet the praying mantis. Some praying mantises, by the way, love it when the owners stroke their abdomen (thorax, more precisely, the place where the limbs are attached to the body).

   Part 6

   Know how to breed praying mantises
   • Some online stores sell a bag of eggs that can be placed in the garden to hatch the larvae. This increases the local population of praying mantises, reduces the number of insects and makes it possible to observe them in their natural environment.
   • Praying mantises have a very fragile egg shell, so be very careful.
   • Never touch the praying mantis when it sheds!
   • Praying mantises are harmless to humans, although they are terrible enemies for other insects.
   • Use a fluorescent light above the vivarium if you want to see your praying mantis at night. It will also provide light for the living plants you may be growing - they will appreciate it.
   • With proper care, praying mantises can live up to one and a half years.
   • Always handle any insects gently and wash your hands after handling their cages and accessories.
   • Do not pick up an animal unless you are sure it will not bite or scratch you.
   • It may be preferable to just watch praying mantises in the wild rather than keeping them in captivity. It's so nice to look at them. They will look at you the same way. A praying mantis visit is good luck. Killing a praying mantis can bring you bad luck.
   • Contrary to popular belief, praying mantises are not endangered. By killing one, you will have no problems with the law. But this does not mean that it should be done!
   • Better to buy a praying mantis at a pet store. A captured wild praying mantis can undergo severe stress, which is fraught with the death of the insect.
   • Buy a container that has top and bottom ventilation.
   • Always take care of any animals!

Having a cat or a dog at home is a common thing, which cannot be said about this exotic lodger. A representative of the fauna with an unusual name, the orchid mantis, becomes an infrequent inhabitant of domestic terrariums. The article is devoted to the peculiarities of insect life and caring for it.

These insects, one of the most beautiful members of the genus Hymenopus coronatus, are named after the orchid because they have a similar coloration. In addition, due to the special structure of the body of the praying mantises, mimicry of form appears - they perfectly imitate a flower, sitting on a branch.

The body of the female is about 6 cm long, the males are two times smaller. Males have 8 abdominal segments, females have six.

Adult insects are colored in white color with pink, blue and golden hues. The pink orchid mantis is especially beautiful.

Young larvae are colored red-black, which scares off potential predators. Adult insects fly well. Females live longer than males. The hind legs of orchid praying mantises are flat and wide, in shape they very much resemble flower petals.

Habitat in nature

Orchid mantises in nature inhabit the rainforests of India and Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand and Malaysia.

One of the advantages of praying mantises is that they are difficult to find among the branches and grass.

Insects live and hunt among orchids, perfectly imitating flowers due to their unique color.

A careless butterfly or a curious fly, crouching on an insect that can be easily confused with a flower, will immediately be grabbed by dexterous forelimbs, similar to two claws with sharp teeth.

Interesting Insect Facts

Mantis living in the home terrarium is fun to watch.

Knowing interesting facts about insects makes it easier to understand their behavior:

1. Praying mantises often wash themselves to keep the many thorns on their forelimbs clean. Little dirt left over from hunting insects can cause infection.
2. The praying mantis can turn its head 180 degrees, conveniently observing what is happening behind its back.
3. Living surrounded by flowers of a certain color, insects acquire the same colors and shades that are characteristic of plants. This mechanism in nature allows predators to create a unique camouflage.
4. During molting, praying mantises need increased air humidity, they cannot get rid of old skin until it gets wet.
5. Males have well-developed wings, they fly well. Females do this very reluctantly due to their impressive body size.
6. For her eggs, the female builds a real architectural work with many compartments - an ootheca. It holds several hundred eggs. The eggs are laid in separate capsules in several rows, and are filled with solidified protein material. They are not afraid of slight frosts and even pesticides.

Insects prefer to spend most of their free time hanging upside down from the ceiling of the terrarium.

Keeping an orchid mantis at home

The dwelling for the praying mantis must be at least three times its height. Its top is made of mesh - for ventilation. At the bottom, you can place some kind of indoor plant. The praying mantis loves light, but you cannot put his dwelling under direct sun.

In order to create a comfortable environment for the pet, a heating lamp is placed in the terrarium. The optimum air temperature is +30 degrees.

Praying mantises are growing rapidly, but their age is short. In nature, they live 50 - 60 days, and in captivity they live from 5 months to 1 year. Insects are unpretentious in food, but gluttonous. Successful keeping at home requires compliance with two conditions - the food must be alive and not exceed half the size of the praying mantis itself. The larvae of various beetles and flies are eaten with pleasure. You need to feed adult praying mantises once every 2 days. The less they eat, the longer they live.

Reproduction of insects

Despite the short life span, the average price for one praying mantis is about 1 thousand rubles. But these insects are very fertile, and the female can bring up to 300 eggs at a time.

The main thing that everyone knows about praying mantises is that when mating, the female bites off the male's head. She needs a lot of protein to carry eggs, so she dines with her partner. In captivity, a well-fed insect can behave this way only in exceptional cases, the main thing is not to forget to feed it in time.

With successful mating, the female of the orchid praying mantis lays the first ootheca after a week.

Small nymphs appear in 30-60 days at an air temperature of about 30 degrees and high humidity. The warmer, the faster the offspring will appear.

Tiny praying mantises are placed in a separate terrarium and fed with fruit flies. In the process of growing up, they will have to go through several molts.

The praying mantis is an ideal pet that will rid the house of flies and cockroaches and relieve the owner of stress. Insects gladly come into contact with humans, they are very beautiful and completely harmless.

In this section, we have collected and continue to collect the most frequently asked questions about praying mantises and their content. We highly recommend it to all beginners and just curious people.

Where do you get information about praying mantises / species / content?
- All information on our resource is collected from our own experience. Therefore, the information obtained here may differ from your experience.

I want to have a praying mantis. What do I need to get started?
- After you decide to get a praying mantis, you should study the information on them and find species that are fairly easy to maintain - they are best suited for a start. More complex species should be started after some experience. You should immediately find a spacious and well-ventilated terrarium. To breed praying mantises, you will need several terrariums and containers, as many species cannot be kept in groups. Study the conditions of detention carefully. It is also worth taking care of the availability of feed in advance. Some types you can find in our resource.

Where can I find information on species management / terrarium?
- Information on the content of species can be found on our resource, or on the Internet. For information on terrariums - in.

What is the best food for praying mantises?
- Almost any insect is suitable for feeding praying mantises. Optimal food is cockroaches or flies. Crickets are not always optimal food, especially for some species. Species that feed on flying insects in nature - willingly eat them in captivity. Flies bred from maggots are excellent. Some species want ants.

How often to feed the praying mantis?
- It depends on the species and age. Young nymphs need to be fed more often. In general, the abdomen of the mantis should always be full. However, the terrarium should not have many forage insects to avoid stress. An adult praying mantis should be fed every 2-3 days.

If I release several feeding insects into the mantis terrarium at once, will they not interfere with the mantis?
- For some reason, you shouldn't do that. Firstly, this is unnecessary stress, and secondly, some species of food insects (crickets, cockroaches) have quite developed jaws and they can damage the praying mantis during molting. In addition, there are cases when crickets carelessly released into the terrarium to the praying mantis ate ootheca.

How long can a praying mantis live without food?
- It depends on the species, age and conditions of detention. The older the praying mantis, the longer it can live without food. In addition, large species can tolerate a longer period without food. For example, the adults of Sphodromantis survive quite well for up to 2 weeks without any problems, after a good feeding. If you have to leave the praying mantis unattended for a long time, prepare it. The week before, start feeding the mantis by feeding it every day and very densely. Also, keep some food insects in his cage.

How long do praying mantises live?
- Depending on the type and conditions of detention. From 2 months to 1.5 years. Females live longer than males. The duration also depends on the temperature and availability of food.

What is the largest / smallest praying mantis?
- The largest known praying mantis today is Ischnomantis Gigas (16cm-18cm), the smallest is Bolbena hottentotta (1.5cm).
In addition, the largest praying mantises are - Toxodera beieri 15 cm, Solygia sulcatifrons * 14 cm, Toxodera maxima 13-14 cm, Schizocephala bicornis 13 cm, Paratoxodera cornicollis 12-13 cm, Macromantis sp. 11-13 cm, Plistospilota guineensis * and Idolomantis diabolica * 10-12 cm, Heterochaeta strachani * 12 cm, Rhombodera fratricida 11-12 cm, Rhombodera basilis *, Hierodula grandis * / membranacea, Zoolea sp. * - 10 cm.
The asterisk marks the captive bred species.

Can praying mantises be kept together and what species?
- All praying mantises are predators, so if there is a lack of food, they will try to eat each other. Some species can coexist more or less together. Basically, they are the Empusiadae family, such as Gongylus gongylodes or Empusa Fasciata, as well as Phillocrania Paradoxa. Many species cannot be kept together due to their aggressiveness, but even so, nymphs of most species can be kept together up to L4 if food is sufficient.

Where can I buy a praying mantis?
- If you are interested in something, you can order a praying mantis on our resource in the sales section. Contact us to specify the range of species.

Is it possible to keep a praying mantis right in the room, without a terrarium?
- Yes, some species may well live without a terrarium, not really moving around. For example, females Sphodromantis, Hierodula, Mantis. They can be settled, for example, on houseplants... In this case, they should be given food regularly.

Do females lay ootheca without mating?
- Yes. After the final molt, the females begin to produce eggs. So, if mating does not take place, the female should still postpone the ooteca, because the eggs inside her abdomen begin to develop together with the final molt. Nothing will come out of this ooteca. Sometimes, when, for some reason, the female cannot postpone such an oedema, she dies.

Are there species that reproduce parthogenetically, without the participation of a male?
- Yes, there are very few such species, but they exist. Brunneria Borealis and Brunneria subaptera, in particular, are among them. This species has only females and all reproduce parthenogenetically. In addition, there is information that Miomantis Paykulii, Cilnia humeralis and Iris oratoria are also possible. But this is not a common phenomenon - as a result, a small number of extremely weak juveniles emerge, most often such pilgrims die even before L4. There is no information on other types of information.

Do females need to mate after each ooteca laying?
- Females can contain sperm for quite a long time after mating. One pairing is enough for several oodes. But, all the same, if there is a possibility - repeat the pairing. This is especially true for small species.

What can be used as decoration in a terrarium?
- As a decor, you can use live and artificial plants, twigs, sand, depending on the species and natural habitat.

Can praying mantises bite a person?
- Yes, in case of danger, praying mantises can try to bite or attack a person. Large praying mantises can scratch, no more

Are there poisonous praying mantises?
- Not.

My praying mantis's eyes changed color. Why?
- It can be either disease / age or night / dark adaptation. Many species change eye color in the late afternoon.

Do mantises need drink?
- They do not need drink, as such. They can get drink with food. During regular spraying with water, they receive moisture. They can also lick off water droplets after spraying.

How can I find out the gender of the praying mantis?
- Very simple. All information is in the appropriate section. (temporarily under revision)

How to mate praying mantises correctly?
- All necessary information - in the appropriate section. (temporarily under revision)

What does "Sp" mean (eg Rhombodera Sp.) In a Latin species name?
- The abbreviation "Sp" is used when the exact name is not known. Also, the abbreveatua "Cp" is often used, which means "possibly". For example, Rhombodera cf. basalis - this is used when it is impossible to say exactly what kind and means - Rhombodera, possibly basalis.

Why are some species missing on the resource?
- Our resource describes only our content experience. There is no information on the species that we did not keep here.

If you have any other questions, please leave a comment.

Today, more and more people can be found who keep praying mantises at home. There is a belief that if a praying mantis lives in a house, it is fortunate: peace and prosperity will reign in the family. These creatures do not smell, do not make unnecessary sounds, do not require a lot of space, time, attention. But before you start this interesting insect as a pet, it will not hurt you to learn about the features of keeping a praying mantis, a suitable habitat for it, feeding, and the intricacies of care.

Where to buy a praying mantis and how much does it cost?

You can find praying mantises in some pet stores or search for ads on the sale of these wonder insects on the Internet.

The price of a praying mantis primarily depends on the species. So, the common praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) can be purchased for 500-1000 rubles, the orchid praying mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) - for 3000 rubles, the Thorny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) - for 1500-4000 rubles. The most expensive species, perhaps, is the "Devil's Flower" praying mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) - 11-12 thousand rubles.

It should be noted that it is better for beginners to pay attention to easy-to-maintain species. For example, (Sphodromantis centralis) is easy to maintain and the most popular among beginners.

How to choose a praying mantis?

It is best to acquire mantis larvae (nymphs). When you take an adult praying mantis into your home, you cannot know its age. It is possible that the insect will quickly die without giving birth. Unfortunately, the age of praying mantises is short-lived - only 5-9 months, rarely, with proper maintenance and care, 1 year. Adults only live for about two months. Males usually die first - after the breeding period, they lose the desire to hunt, they become emaciated and lethargic.

When choosing a nymph, give preference to active ones. Examine the limbs for damage. The abdomen should look full.

What are the signs that you can tell if the praying mantis is an adult?

Adults have wings, while nymphs do not. However, there are also completely wingless species of praying mantis, for example, the earthen mantis (Geomantis larvoides).

How to properly handle a praying mantis?

For humans, praying mantises are not dangerous, but, like any living creature, in the event of a threat, they either run away or try to defend themselves. Therefore, when you inspect the insect, take it in your hands without making any sudden movements, otherwise the mantis can briskly run and fall. Adult praying mantises are able to protect themselves from injury when falling - they spread their wings, thereby reducing the speed of falling. But for a young nymph, the fall usually ends with a rupture of the abdomen. If the praying mantis is in a threatening position, it is best not to touch it: the spiny thorns on the front legs can scratch you.

Taking an insect to examine it must be correct. Movements should be slow and fluid. The hand is carefully lifted from the back and fingers are slipped under the insect's feet so that it is completely in the palm of your hand. Do not squeeze or squeeze the praying mantis.

In general, it is not worth taking into the hands of a praying mantis without special need. It is better to substitute your palm and let the insect climb onto it (you can slightly push).

Where to put the praying mantis?

The most "economical" housing for a praying mantis is a specially equipped plastic container, in which it is also necessary to create a "home environment" - put twigs, put soil on the bottom. The height of the container should be 2-3 times the length of the insect.

If you plan on breeding praying mantises, then you will need several terrariums or containers, since most mantis species cannot be kept in groups.

Keep in mind that praying mantises are thermophilic: for a comfortable existence, most species need a temperature of +23 - + 25 ° C, and some tropical species - +28 - + 30 ° C. To heat the terrarium, you can use an ordinary incandescent lamp, which also serves as a light source ... Terrarium warmers are also suitable for heating. Keep in mind, however, that too high a temperature can be harmful to praying mantises. A small thermometer that is attached to the glass will help control the temperature.

Is it possible to keep a praying mantis without a terrarium, right in the room?

Some species can live without a terrarium. For example, females Hierodula, Sphodromantis, Mantis. They can be placed on houseplants. The main thing is not to forget to feed your predator in time, then he will not leave his home. And remember: the room must be at a suitable temperature for the species of praying mantis.

What to feed the praying mantis with?

Consider in advance if you can provide. This rather gluttonous and capricious predator feeds only on insects, and it is alive and mobile, and nothing else. You will have to buy cockroaches and other food insects at the pet store or breed them yourself. Another option is to catch grasshoppers, moths, etc. in the warm season. in a forest, garden or park.

Why is the praying mantis refusing food?

It is normal for a praying mantis to lose appetite before molting. After the end of the molt, he, too, can starve for some time. The praying mantis can refuse food even if the proposed insect is too large for him.

Does the praying mantis bite?

Praying mantises are not poisonous and pose no danger to humans. On very rare occasions, a large mantis may mistake your fingers for prey, grab them, and bite.

How to determine the gender of a praying mantis?

It is easy to determine the sex of an adult praying mantis: on the inner part of the abdomen, the female has 6 lobes, and the male has 8. Another sign by which you can distinguish the male from the female of the praying mantis is the presence of feathery antennae in the male. In addition, the female praying mantis is usually larger and thicker than the male. Difficulties can arise in determining the sex of young individuals.

In contact with

Small praying mantises need constant food for active growth. The praying mantis should eat as much as it wants to eat. Adults eat once or twice a week. Do not overfeed adults, as some species may be prone to overeating, which can lead to the death of the pet. We recommend feeding in a balanced and moderate way.

As you know, you can't catch insects in winter. But this problem can be solved. Maggots can be purchased from pet stores and fishing shops. If the maggots are kept at room temperature, then they will pupate, and after a week there will be fresh flies. Also, due to the popularity of terrarium keeping, many breeders will willingly share with you cockroaches and various beetle larvae.

exoclub.by

Praying mantises- carnivorous insects. Most species of praying mantises live in tropical countriesalthough some species are found in the northern regions. The closest relatives are stick insects, grasshoppers and cockroaches. Like relatives, praying mantises undergo metamorphoses, they go through several stages of maturation.

Most praying mantises are of tropical origin and should be kept warm (20-25 "C) Young mantises feed on aphids, fruit flies, fruit flies and other small insects. Young mantises grow quickly if you provide them with plenty of food.

Most species of praying mantis are aggressive towards each other and, if kept together, they can eat each other, especially if one mantis is larger than the rest. Almost all mantises are good at eating insects that are the size of the mantis or even larger.

Praying mantises usually do not drink, however, it is good if a small dish of water is placed in the room where they are kept. A dish of water also provides the necessary moisture. If there is no dish, then it is necessary to spray water every day.

Housing... As the mantis grows, it will shed its skin several times, becoming larger in each stage. For newborn insects, a small container, such as a yoghurt cup, or a teenage praying mantis can be transplanted into a jam jar or milk bottle will work. The top of the yoghurt cup should be covered with plastic. A small hole must be made in the foil for feeding. A tube can be inserted into the hole to provide fresh air. Regardless of the type of container used, branches must be placed in it so that the insect can crawl and hang on them (during molting). The height of the container (from floor to ceiling) should be three times the length of the insect.

Reproduction... It is difficult to distinguish between male and female juveniles, but it is easy in adult praying mantises: males have eight lobes on the inside of the abdomen, females - six. Before mating (separately from each other), for several days, the male and female are intensively fed. It is advisable to use a large container for breeding, otherwise the female may eat the male. Mating can happen immediately, or it can take several days. Food must always be present in the cage so that the female can feed during mating. After the end of mating, the male sits down.

The female (depending on age and species) can lay from 30 to 300 eggs. The hatching of larvae from eggs is observed between 3-6 months. Young people can be born all at once or at different times. Young praying mantises can be kept together for some time, but then the container must be large, there must be many secret places in it, live food must constantly inhabit, all these conditions will prevent cannibalism. After the second or third molt, the praying mantises should be planted.

Copyright holder: portal Zooclub
When reprinting this article, an active link to the source is MANDATORY, otherwise, the use of the article will be considered a violation of the "Law on Copyright and Related Rights".

zooclub.ru

Description

The color is patronizing, very variable, ranging from green or yellow to brown-gray or dark brown. The pronotum is of moderate length; the forelegs are grasping, in addition to getting food, they are also used for locomotion. The hind legs are running. The wings are well developed in both the male and the female (although females, due to their impressive size, fly very poorly and reluctantly). The abdomen is ovoid, rather long.

How to keep a praying mantis as a pet?

The praying mantis can be a fun and cuddly pet. This pet is intuitive and smarter than most members of the insect family. A praying mantis can often live up to a year, and sometimes more, if properly cared for. In fact, some naturalists even claim that the praying mantis can recognize a person.

1. Make a dwelling for the praying mantis

The container for keeping the praying mantis should not be too large so that it can find its prey and, at the same time, it should not be too small so that it is not too cramped. The length of the container should be 3-4 times longer than the mantis itself, and the height should be at least 2 times its length. The reason for this is that the praying mantis must have enough room to pursue its prey, but not excessively, or else it will not be able to find it.

2. Create the right environment

A favorable environment is necessary for the life of a praying mantis. Punch holes at the top of the lid or container to allow the mantis to breathe. There should be several plants in the cage of the same color as the insect for your pet to disguise, but the cage should not be overcrowded. The bottom of the container should be filled with a layer of soil approximately 1.2 cm thick, preferably sand. Make sure the container is not too humid. If the sides are fogged up, add a few more holes at the top or sides. Spray water about once a day inside the cage so that the mantis has water to drink. The praying mantis climbs up the side of the container and licks off the water. If you place an open container of water in his home, the praying mantis may fall into it and drown.

3. Feed the praying mantis

The nutritional requirements of a praying mantis will vary depending on their stage of growth, although if, in general, they don't need a lot of food.

• For a larva purchased from a pet store: feed fruit flies, small crickets, mosquitoes, aphids and other small insects.


• For a grown mantis that is molting (age stage): Start increasing the size of the insects, and then during each shedding period, feed normally, but remove anything it ignores because the mantis may not eat during the molt.
• A fully grown praying mantis will have to work hard: catch butterflies, crickets, grasshoppers, or even house flies. In the wild, praying mantises will consume whatever they can catch and hold. They've even been known to eat bees and wasps in the wild, but you probably won't want to mess with them.
• It is not necessary to buy crickets from the pet store, although some people will tell you that using wild crickets can make your pet sick. There may be no harm ... for store-grown praying mantises, but there will be harm to wild caught. Be careful with pet-store crickets. In many pet stores, crickets are not fed or cared for properly, and any illness in these crickets can end up being passed on to your mantis. If you're unsure, feed your store-bought or caught crickets some good dietary food for a few days so they can fight the bacteria in their intestines and they'll be fine.
• Do not feed the mantis live food that is larger than it, or that can eat your mantis itself.

How to feed a praying mantis in winter?

In winter, as you know, you can't catch insects on the street, but this problem is solvable.
the pet store can buy maggots - they are sold in plastic containersin which dry sawdust is poured; at home, such a container can be stored in the refrigerator. If you keep this container at room temperature, the maggots will pupate quickly, and you will have fresh flies in a week. The second option is zofobuses: in a box with cereals, they not only live well, but also continue to reproduce. Good for winter meals different kinds cockroaches. As a last resort, you can feed the praying mantis with small portions of meat. But meat should not be given in large quantities - the insect can get sick and die.

In natural conditions, the praying mantis grabs any insect that passes by. Youngsters need more food for full development; adults can do without food for five days.

But don't throw large amounts of food insects - this can stress the praying mantis. In addition, some insects have quite developed jaws, with which they can bite the praying mantis during molting.

Any insect that suits it in size serves as food for a pet. Young animals should be fed with small insects such as aphids, fruit flies, fruit flies. Adults are very voracious, they eat almost any insect in large quantities and can eat even a small lizard or a mouse.

Adults are fed once a week: you need to make sure that the mantis does not overeat, otherwise rupture of the abdomen cannot be avoided. Water is required in the terrarium. You can use an insect drinker to prevent the animals from accidentally drowning, or a plastic lid for the jar.

If you thought that the praying mantis is a harmless and very calm insect with a passive demeanor, then get ready to learn something new about them. The researchers found that these aggressive carnivorous insects kill and eat not only small reptiles such as frogs and lizards, but also small birds. Research by an international group of zoologists has documented this behavior of praying mantises around the world.

It is noteworthy that, in general, this behavior of praying mantises was not special. A YouTube search easily yields a selection of videos showing a praying mantis devouring a hummingbird. A new study by a group of zoologists has systematically documented 147 examples of mantis attacks, representing 12 different species, on small birds. Scientists tracked behavior in 13 countries, finding that praying mantises prey on 24 species of birds.

Interestingly, over 70 percent of documented cases have been reported in the United States, with the majority of the casualties being hummingbirds. Praying mantises have been used in gardens as biological pest control agents for decades, and to this day, many Americans still use both imported and indigenous species for pest control. But new research shows that insects pose a threat to small passerines as well. In addition, this indiscriminate mantis makes them not the best remedy insect control.

pets-mf.ru

More and more unusual pets can be seen in people's homes. Instead of dogs and cats, people enjoy caring for snakes and insects. Praying mantis content which cannot be called difficult, he also managed to become a pet.

The praying mantis is a large carnivorous insect that distinguished by an unusual appearance and interesting behavior... While not all people might call him handsome, he has quite a few fans willing to take care of him. If you want to diversify your life with an original pet that will not take up much space, then the praying mantis is a good choice.

Many people are fascinated by the habits of this predatory insect. It is not for nothing that he is celebrated for his unique body shape, his manner of suddenly freezing, tracking down prey and folding his front legs in a gesture that is very reminiscent of a prayer one. The male grows up to 5 cm in length. Females are much larger than males and can reach a size of 7 cm. The color of this insect is different. (from bright green to sandy, less often there are individuals of a dark brown shade).

Usually, praying mantises are aggressive towards members of their speciestherefore it is not recommended to keep several insects in one place. The abode of the praying mantis is a fairly spacious container. Moreover, its height should be 3 times the length of the praying mantis so that it does not feel uncomfortable while moving. A liter can is enough for a small insect, but an adult should have room for a walk, so it is better to purchase an aquarium that should be covered with a net. If you manage to equip a real terrarium, then your pet and you yourself will definitely appreciate it. The more free space, the more interesting it is to watch the insect.

When keeping praying mantises at home, you will have to monitor humidity levelsto which insects are very sensitive. It is enough to spray the soil with settled tap water at room temperature several times a week. You can also use a drinker. But it should be small so that the insect can easily crawl out of it if it gets into the water. Too high a level of humidity should not be allowed, as the soil can become moldy.

Lighting is very important for praying mantises, since they are daytime insects and their activity falls on the daytime. At home, ordinary fluorescent lamps can become their "sun". But under direct sunlight, praying mantises should not live in any case.

Bogomolov can be picked up without harm to health... These pets are quite slow and completely harmless to humans. But still, you should not make sudden movements, make noise or in any other way scare the insect. It can suddenly run away, fall and be injured. If you behave carefully, then the praying mantis will surely please you with good behavior.

anydaylife.com

A little about insect

An adult praying mantis can be quite large - its length can be ten or more centimeters.

The color of this insect can be yellow, green, light brown or other, depending on the environment. Having the ability to mimic by nature, the mantis can merge with branches, plants and stones that have a similar color, and therefore it will be very difficult to notice it.

He has a triangular, very mobile head, which he can rotate 180 degrees. The forelegs are well developed with sharp spines, with which it captures its prey and holds it while eating. The praying mantis also has wings, but it flies very badly, so most often it sits motionless in one place, waiting for prey.

The lifespan of a domestic praying mantis is about two months, but some species, according to some sources, can live for about a year.

Temperature regime

Since insects are tropical inhabitants, accordingly, you need to keep the praying mantis at home in temperature conditions from 20 to 25 ° С, while also observing the required humidity regime. Keeping the mantis cage moist is easy, just spray water over the cage once a day, it should be enough.

How does a domesticated mantis eat?

How to feed a praying mantis at home? Such pets prefer aphids, flies, and other insects of a suitable size. Young individuals grow very quickly, provided that the owner feeds them well.

Many representatives of praying mantises can show aggression towards their relatives, so cannibalism is quite possible, especially if there is a significant difference in size among individuals. Indoor mantises can also consume insects of the same size, or perhaps even larger than themselves.
Most praying mantises do not drink water, however, a container of water should be placed where they are kept. It will also serve as a source of moisture to maintain the desired microclimate. In the absence of a container, it will be necessary to spray water to ensure moisture.

Living conditions

In its developmental stages, the mantis tends to shed its skin, thus increasing in size. For individuals who have just been born, a small container will be an excellent housing, but for teenagers, you can use a jar or something similar in size. The temporary dwelling of young praying mantises should be covered with foil, after making a hole in it for feeding. A necessary condition is the presence of branches in the container, which should be exactly three times larger in size than the young.

Breeding features

Young praying mantis, when kept at home, has almost no difference in sexes, however, adults can be easily recognized, due to the fact that males have eight lobes on the abdomen, while females have only six. Before insects begin to mate, they must be fed with a large amount of food, while separating from each other. In order for the male not to become food for the female, a container is needed large sizeswhere the breeding process will take place. The whole action can take several minutes or days, but the presence of food is required. After mating is over, the male is removed from the female.

The female can produce 30 to 300 eggs. The larvae will hatch in the interval from 3 to 6 months, while they hatch, they may not all at once.

The main nuance for keeping praying mantises at home is the presence of a large container for their habitat, in which live food must be present, as well as the ability to hide for its inhabitants. Observing these requirements, cannibalism will be excluded, however, after the insects shed several times, they must be planted.

If you want to get yourself an unusual insect, then the house mantis is perfect. This insect is undemanding in keeping and does not take up much space. Such a pet can be caught in the wild or purchased at a pet store.

And if you have not yet chosen a pet to match yourself, pay attention to the terrible tarantula - the hero of Hollywood horror films or his eternal opponent - the scorpion.

ekzopit.ru

Lodging for praying mantis

The most comfortable and affordable housing for a praying mantis is the terrarium. It is necessary to take into account the size according to whether the individual is large or small. The fact is that the praying mantis still needs space to feel comfortable. But do not forget that these animals themselves catch the food that you present to them, respectively, it will become more difficult to catch prey in a large cage.

A photo. Hygrometer TA218A as thermometer and moisture meter for praying mantis.

To create a "home environment" for the praying mantis, it is worth purchasing various driftwood and branches, on which the insect will be able to spend its time and look out for prey.

Air temperature

As mentioned above, these parameters are very important, because the insect is exotic. They are used to certain temperatures. For example, for desert dwellers, it ranges from 28 to 40 degrees above zero. For tropical individuals - from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. You can create such conditions with the help of incandescent lamps, thermal mats and other gadgets, of which there are quite a few now. Install a thermometer to track the reading. A slight drop in temperature is possible at night. Never place the terrarium under sun rays, artificial light is needed. To watch insects at night, you can buy a moonlight lamp.

Air humidity

Moisture is the second most important mantis. To maintain it, you can periodically spray the soil. You can put a drinker, for example, a small lid with water, so that the animal cannot drown there. Perhaps you don't need to make much effort. Just look at the hygrometer values \u200b\u200band find out how many times a week you need to humidify your home to avoid excessive proportions. This is important because otherwise you will create an environment for bacteria and mold.

Feeding the praying mantis

Small individuals are advised to feed as often as possible, they must constantly have food in the terrarium. Large praying mantises need 1-2 times a week. Overeating can rupture your abdomen, so don't overdo it. The size of the insect's food should not exceed half of its body, otherwise the animal will be afraid and try to protect itself from its own food. The most common and readily available food for the praying mantis is flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, crickets, small bugs, or even lizards for large individuals. Do not pick animals from the street or forest because they can carry some kind of disease. Praying mantises are cannibals, so it is not recommended to leave them alone with another praying mantis, let alone exist. When breeding, you need to carefully monitor them.

Conclusion

As you can understand - the praying mantis will not take much of your time and effort, mandatory conditionsthere are not many to follow. Even for humidity and temperature, it is worth purchasing a hygrometer and incandescent lamps once, and understanding how many times a week to spray the soil. The praying mantis is a very fragile insect, so if you handle it, try to be careful with it. It is a known fact that they love to have their belly scratched, try it. If the animal bites you on your finger, do not make sudden movements, most likely the mantis took you for a victim, do not be alarmed, their bite is not poisonous. If you take an animal out of its cage, remember that it has wings and can fly away if there is an open window nearby. Watch this. Perhaps this is all the most important thing you need to know in order to get and keep a praying mantis. Follow all the rules, and your new friend will delight with his presence for as long as possible.

pribor63.ru

What is undesirable to feed praying mantises:

Cricket (Gryllidae).The cricket itself is a harmless insect. If you caught him on the street, then you can safely feed him. But the crops sold in pet stores live on artificial feed, due to which harmful bacteria develop in the body of crickets. The immunity of praying mantises very often does not cope with such an infection, and cases of cricket poisoning have been recorded not only in them. Many people (usually holders of Sphodromantis mantises) will try to confuse you and say that all this is nonsense. And you, of course, believe them, which you will regret. Why Sfodromantis? Yes, because they are one of the most powerful mantises in the culture, which practically no infection takes (but a cricket can cope with them). By the way, people who breed crickets themselves claim that praying mantises live well on it, but, as you understand, no good keeper is going to test their theories on their animals.

Cricket dust. This is a separate topic. Newborn crickets have not yet collected any rubbish in the body, therefore, they are perfectly fed to the mantis of the first molts. But I will leave this type of food here because it seems to me that it is completely useless. Dust is more expensive than Drosophila, does not multiply (ends in 3-4 days), requires separate feeding, is not juicy and nutrient-rich KO. That is, it is inferior to Drosophila in all respects.

Lioness (Hermetia illucens). In addition to the cricket, there are a number of food animals that are not recommended for the praying mantis. This is, first of all, the Black Lioness. The larvae of the lioness serve as nutritious food for reptiles, so recently it has been increasingly seen in specialized stores. But do not be fooled: the flies themselves accumulate substances in the body that lead to the failure of the nervous system and the death of the praying mantis, which was recently proved by Sergei Pugaev, unfortunately, from his own experience. Feeding a Lioness is even worse than feeding a cricket and maggot at the same time.

Turkmen cockroach (Shelfordella tartara). The second unwanted food item is the Turkmen cockroach. Its effect on the digestive system of a praying mantis is similar to that of a cricket, although cases of administration are much less common. Moreover, the cockroach lacks nutrientsTherefore, even strong praying mantises that feed on non-infested cockroaches can shed badly, and pregnant females often cannot postpone ootheca. Feeding with Turkmen is permissible, but with the obligatory use of other feeds.

Red cockroach (Blattella germanica)... Is it possible to catch an ordinary cockroach at home and feed it to a praying mantis? Not! The Prussians eat all kinds of nasty things and collect toxins from cockroach poison. Such food is not suitable for a praying mantis. However, there are people who raised the culture of the Red cockroach and feed them perfectly, the adjustable cockroach will not pose a danger to the praying mantis. Only do you need it? If there is an escape from such a colony, not only the praying mantis will have to catch cockroaches ...

Maggot and his friends. I would like to start the last item on the list with the words: "About boiled." The fact is that in our time there are a lot of clever people who, under various pretexts, feed the praying mantises all sorts of rubbish. Let me, once again, especially for them, will list some foods that are strictly prohibited for use: maggots, bloodworms, worms, snails ... Do you understand the logic? Anything that the praying mantis does not normally eat in nature, it should not be in your home. It is poison. Muchnik and zofobas, by the way, are also included in the list, like any larvae. They are too fat, this at least disrupts the process of ooteca formation in females and shortens their life. Yes, and more. Giving the praying mantis meat (raw, boiled, fried, rotten, your finger - too) DO NOT. It simply won't digest and clog the digestive system.

Fuh! I hope you are not confused, I tried in more detail. Perfect option - this is to combine 3-4 types of food and see who the praying mantis takes more willingly. But for most of the simple species, only Marble cockroaches are enough. Okay, let's assume that now you understand the matter of feeding the praying mantis, and we can move on.

vdbr.ru

Conditions of detention

The main condition for keeping these very original-looking insects is the temperature, which should be at least 25 ° C. Thermal pads should be used at low temperatures.

Lighting is also important for praying mantises, since they are characterized by a daytime lifestyle. This is where special lamps come in handy.

How and what to feed a praying mantis

The food for the praying mantis should consist of meat. Sometimes these insects can eat even a small lizard. When composing a diet for a praying mantis, it must be borne in mind that the insects that serve as food for it should not be large, otherwise the mantis may be frightened. It is enough to feed an adult once a week, not more often, since they are prone to overeating, which negatively affects the health of the praying mantis.

The praying mantis can be safely handled, since this insect does not pose any danger to humans. But before you do this, you should make sure that he is peaceful and calm. You do not need to make sudden movements, make noise, otherwise the praying mantis may get scared and fall. These are extremely interesting insects that are interesting to watch.

domashnie-zhivotnii.ru