what?

Today my baby mantises hatched! It was amazing to see all the baby mantises as they frolicked inside the Mantis Pagoda... until they started dying left and right. Hopefully one survives.

Welcome to the Thunder-dome bitches.

Day 17: The Postman Always Rings Twice

After what felt like an eternity, the “Mantis Egg Case” has finally arrived. I was overcome with excitement as egg case was delivered, and all of my work friends gather around to witness the unveiling. Arriving in a small box labeled “Live Insects Open Immediately,” the egg case was carefully packed in a plastic container.  Very delicately I removed the Egg Case from the enclosure and placed it in the hanging Praying Mantis Pagoda. The pressure was intense as I carefully zipped the pagoda closed, one false move could spell disaster for the potentially hundreds of nymphs gestating inside the egg case.

According to my extensive research (the included instructions) the nymphs should emerge from the egg case in approximately 3-6 weeks. Stay tuned for breaking news from the Praying Mantis Pagoda.

-Mantis, bey bey.

Egg Case carefully packed

The Mantis Egg Case arrives

Prepping the pagoda

Egg Case inside the pagoda

The Praying Mantis Pagoda and Egg Case safe on my desk

Placing the egg case inside the pagoda. Note the use of gloves, 

lets face it that egg case looks like a dehydrated turd.

Day 15: Fun Fact

Mantises are poor fliers and walk slowly. If they have plenty to eat, they usually stay close to where they were born.

Day 12: Coital Cannibalism!

Day 10: Fun Fact

Through Spring and Summer mantises shed their skins many times. They vary in color and are gray, green, and pinkish, but they usually darken with age. Their color is a natural camouflage - it fools even other mantises.

Day 9: The Fashionable Mantis

Today brings us the first installment of “The Fashionable Mantis,” highlighting some of the most cutting edge mantis couture.

Today’s featured item is a must have for the spring season. Coincidence? Yes. However, I would like to think that I helped inspire this shirt. Our friends at Kings Road Merch and Epitaph Records bring us this amazingly high quality and cost effective “Mantis Shirt,” perfect for the pop punk praying mantis in your life. The shirt for the band Set Your Goals features a large fez wearing praying mantis ready to dominate the world, screen printed on what I can only assume is the finest black cotton tee-shirt available.  

Get your own “Mantis Shirt” at Kings Road Merch for the low price of $14.99 and pick up Set Your Goals latest album “This Will Be The Death Of Us” available on iTunes.

Don’t emerge from your egg case without the latest in this seasons mantis inspired fashion. 

Day 5: Nature's Perfect Predators

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Day 3: Fun Fact

When hatching in the wild, the baby mantises, or nymphs, emerge from the egg case and float to the ground. They resemble large mosquitoes when young and are very difficult to see as they blend easily with plant life.

Day 2: Letters to Shafter, CA

Well it’s official; the coupon for my Praying Mantis Egg Case is in the mail. The Egg Case should arrive safe and sound in approximately 1-3 weeks, however the disclaimer “ while supplies last,” is a little concerning. Stay tuned… 

 

Day 1: The Golden Gift

I got the best present ever from my work friends today, "The Praying Mantis Pagoda." The instructions suggest that you keep a mantis observation journal, but I thought a blog would be more fun. So I have decided to post mantis updates, photos, videos and fun facts as I embark on this beautiful journey with my new pet mantis. Keep checking back as I eagerly await the arrival of my Praying Mantis Egg Case. Please allow 1 to 3 weeks for delivery.