Traps for mantis
Hi Ray,
Sorry to hear that you're losing more livestock. If you haven't heard any smashing for the last couple of days, that's a good thing since it might mean that the mantis hasn't been killing and eating any more snails etc. Also it should be getting hungry so trapping him should be easier. As far as catching him, I was thinking that one of those plastic critter keepers (they come in all sizes, hold water and have a perforated lid with a small plastic window on top) baited with frozen clam in the shell, shrimp tail etc (things with nice odour and that I know my mantis loves) might be enough to lure him out. My peacock becomes more alert and goes into hunting mode when she detects food smells in the water. Leave the small door on top open and mantis should find the opening. When it goes in, you will have to have a chopstick or other stick ready to flip the door closed. You can also continue to leave the inverted bottle trap in the tank as a backup. Either way, don't leave it in the trap for too long since it might be able to smash its way out. Of course, if you are able to find its home and its in a rock or you see it in the open and can chase it into a particular rock, you can isolate and remove the rock.
Hope one of these methods work. Keep us posted. Good luck.
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