Gurders Mantis
praying mantis
Idolomantis diabolica
Finally I am updating with my breeding attempt with this wonderful species
Aug 08
After a lot of blu bottles I got adults 
, I lost a male and a female during the last moult which was less than I thought I would if I am honest
Sept 08
Bringing my 1st adult female into breeding condition took more blu bottles than I thought a mantis could eat, but she got full eventually and started calling which I took as my sign to try and mate my 1st pair. 3 days after moving the female into the males cage I did my morning check/feeding in the shed to find them mating. 5 days later she laid the largest ooth I have ever seen so I put the ooth in a hatching tub and continued to supply them with loads of blu bottles. The 2nd mating was seen 6 days later by my son "Dad the mantis are giving a piggyback ride" 
. 9 days after she laid her 2nd ooth
Oct 08
34 days after the 1st ooth was laid it hatched with as far as I could count about 30 nymphs, chuffed was an understatment
Gongylus gongylodes
June 08
I have been very lucky and got 3 fertile females that have laid lots of ooths.
Another ooth hatching
1 of the 1st hatched nymphs, 4 or 5th instar now
14th May 08
Got home from my 1st exam to find the 1st ooth had hatched
25th April 08
Incubating several ooths now fingers and toes crossed
9th Aprl 08
Mr Gongy came for a holiday
My friends Gongy moulted and it turned out to be a male, with the sub-adult I had got from Germany I have 4 females and 2 males to try and ge a next generation from.
Hierodula membrancea
3rd May 08
These little nymphs really enjoy food be it a fruit fly or a sybling, hope I can keep up with the fruit fly demand.
27th April 08
I have nymphs and loads of em The 2nd ooth hatched whilst I was out buying stuff for the shed.
14th April 08
Mated female laid 3rd ooth, 1st still hasn't so I assume its a dud
7th March 08
Female laid 2nd ooth, incubating same as 1st
11th Feb 08
Female laid ooth, incubating in sweet jar with mesh lid and a few cotton wool pads in the bottom, misting once a day.
1st Feb 08
Mated pair successfully.
Polyspilota aeruginosa
June 08
Still no ooths from either of the mated females, they are looking ready to pop now
8th April 08
Woke up to find him on the job, herd the flutter of wings an hour or so later and he was on the other end of the cage
7th April 08
After a week of heavy feeding for the female and a week in the spare room for the male, I introduced her into his net cage along with a few blue bottles
Pseudoharpax Virescens Virescens
20th March 08
The ooths laid by the female are not fertile, I have dissected the original ooth and the eggs had not developed. I have several others that should be fertile and hatch in due time.
9th March 08
All mated females now laying ooth every 3 or 4 days. Fingers crossed 1st ooth will hatch soon.
27th Feb 08
Swapped females around
26th Feb 08
Both males doing there job with 1st two females
23rd Feb 08
Received 2 males from Holland (Pim you’re a star mate)
13th Feb 08
Mated female now laid 3 ooths, fingers crossed again. I am incubating the ooths in trifle pots with a mesh lid a cotton pad on the base. Misting every couple of days
21st January 08
Mated pair for 1st time, male mounted for a couple of hours. I will pair up again in a few days.
Did not get a chance to because I lost my only male the day after, I have located another male for my females but I am waiting for the weather to improve before having him shipped.
11th January 08
2nd adult a female
Phyllocrania paradoxa
21st March 08
Both of the females have moulted to adult now. The male is sub-adult
Jan 08
I am trying again with this species and now have a new trio of breeding stock.
I have 2 females and 1 male and will update in the future.
1st attempt a failure, oh well can only try again.
