Mantis Identified!!!! and for all those other Mantis lovers.... there is another one!

[justinl]

nope, the one i got from HR was a G. smithii.

hmmm. i can't see what im looking for in the pic of the telson... can you describe the insides of its arms or get a pic? the meral spot in particular. here's a link that very clearly shows where the meral spot is. it's the big circular marking. it's the best trait to ID a mantis. smithii's will be the white ring with dark bentre for example. what's yours like?

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthrop...g_smithii1.jpg

[Ticketyboo]

you want me to get it to pose like that???? are you insane??? you stick your fingers in there and try to get it to strike a pose....its not exactly a kodak moment between us yet... i fed it a shrimp with my feeding stick and it whacked my feeding stick

Ok this is the best i can do just now... does this help?

Its a white circle with a darker green outer!

[justinl]

okay i think i got it. 90% sure it's an N. wennerae. i say this because the smashing arms are pink, it has fine white speckling about the head and it has a white meral spot.

intertidal species so same general requirements as G. smithii. Very active mantis. They will change colour afte one or two molts if you give it different strengths of lighting.

low lighting makes them redish. high lighting makes them green or cream.

[Ticketyboo]

Thanks Justin.....

... but with all this species specific talk, your knowledge, age... experience... active posts on canreef.... big man i think its time to take the plunge and get a girlfriend now

[justinl]

lol, im going into marine biology, it's my job to know this crap! lol that's my story and im sticking to it. girlfriend... hmmm. you see, the problem with that is that i need to find a girl that won't get sick of me talking about my tank all the time... which isn't easy. *shrug* it'll happen when it happens. Im in no rush.

[Ticketyboo]

AHA!!! so its identified as a G. Smithii!!!!!!

And its doing magic... eating like a horse!!!!

And for all those other Mantis Lover out there.... i know where there is another identical one same size (3 inch) for sale locally here also!!!!!