I went to a butterfly observatory today(which by the way was awesome!!) and in the gift shop i bought two preying mantis egg cases(thats what they called them) and there was an instruction sheet inside which told how to hatch them, but i don't know if the information is correct or incomplete which i find is very common when it comes to pet shops and places like that. Here is what the instruction sheet said:
Preying Mantis Egg Case Instructions
Your egg case is attached to the inside of the container with Glue.
Keep your container upright so the white lid is top. Keep the cup out of extreme heat. You will want to keep your cup with egg case in your refrigerator until April 1st. Then take them out to room temperature. Your baby Mantises will hatch approximately 4 to 6 weeks later in May, when the danger of frost has passed. Mild frost will not kill them.
When your eggs hatch there will be about 100 to 300 baby miniature mantis. these babies will be walking all ovet hte inside of the cup. At this time you should take the container outside and release all the babies. Sprinkle them all around your yard or garden where you want pest insects to be controlled. It is important to let the babies out soon as they will begin to eat each other if they are crowded.
You can also keep some as pets as long as there is only 1 mantis to a cage. When young feed them tiny crickets which can be bought from any local pet store or you can find tiny insects in the grass(no ants though). Young mantis will grow full size (4 to 5 inches) in about 3 months. They will reproduce in your yard and probably be around your house year after year.
That is all that it said. I plan to release most of the babies and maybe keep a few as pets. Is all the info correct? Is there anything missing? Thanks for your help!!
*~*elcheal*~*
