Dystacta alticeps [Mantis]

[Westley Price]

I hope I have gotten the ID right on this one.

For a while I have been keeping this big girl and she has been doing exceptionally well, eating anything that moves. Most other animals refuse to feed on darkling beetles or feed very reluctantly, but this girl takes them with gusto, feeding on them while still alive.

These are actually very cool little mantids and calm down nicely. They use the "trapsuutjies" method of moving, swaying like a leaf in the wind. And apparently they come in a wide variety of colours, from green to almost pure white. This one is a nice light beige colour.

Here are a few pics of her feeding (upside down above the feeding bowl). In the background you can see the leftovers of her previous victim. Enjoy





Cool dark spot on her thorax

[Clay]

That's cool man!!!

[Westley Price]

Hmmmm, another mis-ID on my behalf (I wish inverts were as easy as reptiles!)

This is actually not Cilnia humeralis, but rather Dystacta alticeps.

I have changed the topic title to reflect this.