so for the past month ive noticed there has been a couple of these guys hoping from tree to tree, ive counted 4 in one given day. around this time of year for some reason my bougainvillea gets aphids but that has not been the case this year and i think these bad boys have a lot to do with it. they seem to really enjoy my trees and are definitely sticking around.

Friends!

Nice little butcher!
I would like to release a bunch of Idolomantis diabolica on my balcony, but they’re more expensive then my trees..

Felidae wrote: Nice little butcher!
I would like to release a bunch of Idolomantis diabolica on my balcony, but they’re more expensive then my trees..

So.. Revert to releasing Coccinella septempunctata

leatherback wrote:

Felidae wrote: Idolomantis diabolica..

Coccinella septempunctata...

Do you sniff or smoke those things?
Sounds like fun, especially the diabolica!

leatherback wrote:

Felidae wrote: Nice little butcher!
I would like to release a bunch of Idolomantis diabolica on my balcony, but they’re more expensive then my trees..

So.. Revert to releasing Coccinella septempunctata

Exactly! Cheap, easy to breed, useful and.. have points.

Clicio wrote:

leatherback wrote:

Felidae wrote: Idolomantis diabolica..

Coccinella septempunctata...

Do you sniff or smoke those things?
Sounds like fun, especially the diabolica!

Not just sounds! Look at this beast:

WOW!
Better than the carnival in Rio!!!

Crent89, I'm so sorry about hijacking you thread, AGAIN!
Forgive us, please.

Clicio wrote: Crent89, I'm so sorry about hijacking you thread, AGAIN!
Forgive us, please.

no harm here, go on that thing is beautiful. i want one of those in my garden lol

crent89 wrote: ...i want one of those in my garden lol

Ow, me too! But how LB highlighted, have to stay with ladybugs and native mantids

Idolomantis is fantastic, but not easy species, neither to keep or breed. Where you can do bonsai outdoors, you cannot do these. In terrarium, it needs constant 28-32+ degrees and almost always bone dry environment (native p.ex: Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia,...). They catch everything what’s flying and can grow over 10-12 cm body length. Outstanding beauty, but personally I never had a chance to get in my collection.