PCCUSNRet said:What do you feed them when they hatch? I've recently moved back to Virginia and in the process of rebuilding my garden. After 3 years, I finally saw one Praying Mantis this past week. Don't think it appreciated the watering of my plants. I know the adults eat grasshoppers, no idea what I would feed newly hatched ones.
They eat pretty much any insect they can catch, little ones will be catching midges, sandflies etc.
I used to turn them into pets, a bit macabre, but...
Late summer and fall the females will be trying to produce as many eggs as possible. They attract males by releasing a pheromone to attract them. After the fun bit for the male, he gets killed and devoured....
So if you have them in your garden and can find them, I used to catch a fly, or blowfly and stick a pin through it, then entice the P.M. to catch it. Cruel for the fly, but amazing how quick they can eat one!
The females usually end up with the larger abdomen (fat tummy), whereas the male is usually very skinny.
