Q:I am not usually a fan of insects but I stumbled upon your blog and think it's great. The variety of mantids is amazing.

forasgardandthrealmeternal

Thank you so much! Most of the bugs are my own, I love having different species. And I know the feeling, haha, insects used to not provoke the best feelings in me either. I do think mantids are the easiest to get used to, likely because they have such an easy to define front and back! And a head that turns. Very expressive critters. But since I’ve started keeping mantids I’ve been more comfortable around many bugs, it’s great! 

Q:Hi, I'm looking into getting an Orchid mantis. I was just wondering if you knew where to get one and maybe any other information you have on them as pets. I really love your blog, amazing photographs. Thank you very much.

climb-higher

Helloo!

The best place to visit really, if you’re from America, is the mantidforum. At the bottom of their forum, they have a part where people post topics on mantids they’re selling or looking for. Actually right now someone is selling orchids. You want to look at the “Mantids for sale/wanted” topic. Admittedly though, orchids are expensive, and not really the best starter mantis. Though I guess, if you read on them enough any mantis can be a starter mantis. 

This is a good website about orchid care, and it might also be an idea to register at the UK mantis forums. We europeans just seem to get orchids more often, and admittedly I like the caresheets they provide more as well.

Otherwise, you’re free to ask me anything as well. Winter might be a difficult time to get mantids, since shipping them in the cold is a bit of a risk, and half of the fun is catching food outside for your mantis. Unless you have 50. Then you’re better off raising maggots.

Oh and thanks for the compliment! I’m just an amateur really, but mantids are a lot of fun to make pictures of. When they work along, and aren’t running off somewhere.