They grow so fast

The Chinese mantis hatchlings, which quite unexpectedly overran my house a few weeks ago, are growing like crazy. If all goes well, this cohort should be laying eggs by spring, and thus I should be able to return them to my garden (although they are an introduced species, Chinese mantids are already well established in my neighborhood, and thus I don’t feel too terrible about releasing them.)

Instars I, II, and II of the Chinese mantis (Tenodera parasinensis)

Filed under: Praying mantids