Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis - Cannabis Growing Questions - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

highonthechroni · 02-11-2006, 09:37 PM

Taken from my OverGrow thread

Praying Mantids (or Mantis, "Mantids" refer to the whole group and Mantis refers to a specific few) are ultimate killing machines and will destroy any bad bugs on your plants. They're one of the best all-purpose predator bugs to have on your plants.

Mantids are variable insects in sizes ranging from 15mm in length to whopping beasts at around 15+cm in length, their diet consists of insects mostly but the larger species are quite capable of taking out small lizards, birds and mice without any difficulties. Typically the life span of a praying mantis is a 'season' from where they originally come from, this is usually between 3 and 9 months although some specimens can live for over 12 months. The average life expectancy of a typical African praying mantis is around 6 months as a freshly molted adult (kept March - November).

The mantis is a very useful insect to have in your garden; it eats flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, roaches, and other pests.

The two front legs of the mantids are highly specialized. When hunting mantids assume a "praying" position, folding the legs under their head. They use the front legs to strike out and capture their prey. Long sharp spines on the upper insides of these legs allow them to hold to on their prey. The impaled prey is held firmly in place while being eaten. The spines fit into a groove on the lower parts of the leg when not in use.

During mating the smaller male often jumps on the back of the larger female. Miscalculating the jump may mean the male becomes a meal. If the jump was successful, the pair mate and during copulation the female may turn and devour the male's head. The body of the male is capable of completing the mating, when complete the female will finish eating the male.

One or two pics.. There were lots more!

Druid · 02-11-2006, 09:41 PM

Nice! Aren't ladybugs also good insects for your garden?

Guest423 · 02-11-2006, 09:44 PM

predators rule....i've tried toxic sprays, organic sprays, neem....for thrips,mites ect. and nothing beats the predators.....if you got a problem there is a predator for all of them....they work everytime.

peace

highonthechroni · 02-11-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druid

Nice! Aren't ladybugs also good insects for your garden?

very good indeed!

highonthechroni · 02-11-2006, 09:56 PM

some pics of my little friends!

PassionForMaryJ · 02-12-2006, 12:03 AM

Nice post HOTC

I have a few ladybugs in my vegg area, I use the horrid no cancer strip, sorry I mean no pest strip, I hear it can cause cancer, but I am never in my flowering room long...
I once considered introducing nematodes....

I introduced 2 or 3 ladybugs about 2 months or so ago in the vegg area, and they are still there going strong, they are always tending to my ladies

I love beneficial insects!

Again great post!!

highonthechroni · 02-12-2006, 12:10 AM

hey PFMJ!

thanks for the kind words. maybe i'll do a ladybug thread soon!

hmm.. wonder if yours are gonna start reproducing..?

02-12-2006, 12:25 AM

Praying Mantis egg pods are available at Home Depot (So.Cali) for $4.00.... around 200 of the little medieval bastards per egg pod.

Lady bugs are cool...spray some coca cola on their wings so they are sticky and they don't fly off ..... it wears off after a while and they will get back to whoring around after the cola wears off in a week or so .......

highonthechroni · 02-12-2006, 12:29 AM

LOL @ coca-cola!

shame.

PassionForMaryJ · 02-12-2006, 01:34 AM

Somebody must watch Mythbusters, lol

Very welcome HOTC, I think they are reproducing..
I hope so anyway!
A lil ladybug info

The pupal stage may last from three to 12 days depending on the temperature and species. The adults emerge, mate, and search for prey or prepare for hibernation, depending on the availability of prey and time of year. Adults may live for a few months to over a year. The more common species typically have one to two generations per year.

Take care and happy growing HOTC!!

02-11-2006, 09:37 PM	#1
highonthechroni C Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Basking under the great African sun Posts: 1,429	Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis Taken from my OverGrow thread Praying Mantids (or Mantis, "Mantids" refer to the whole group and Mantis refers to a specific few) are ultimate killing machines and will destroy any bad bugs on your plants. They're one of the best all-purpose predator bugs to have on your plants. Mantids are variable insects in sizes ranging from 15mm in length to whopping beasts at around 15+cm in length, their diet consists of insects mostly but the larger species are quite capable of taking out small lizards, birds and mice without any difficulties. Typically the life span of a praying mantis is a 'season' from where they originally come from, this is usually between 3 and 9 months although some specimens can live for over 12 months. The average life expectancy of a typical African praying mantis is around 6 months as a freshly molted adult (kept March - November). The mantis is a very useful insect to have in your garden; it eats flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, roaches, and other pests. The two front legs of the mantids are highly specialized. When hunting mantids assume a "praying" position, folding the legs under their head. They use the front legs to strike out and capture their prey. Long sharp spines on the upper insides of these legs allow them to hold to on their prey. The impaled prey is held firmly in place while being eaten. The spines fit into a groove on the lower parts of the leg when not in use. During mating the smaller male often jumps on the back of the larger female. Miscalculating the jump may mean the male becomes a meal. If the jump was successful, the pair mate and during copulation the female may turn and devour the male's head. The body of the male is capable of completing the mating, when complete the female will finish eating the male. One or two pics.. There were lots more! __________________ HighOnTheChronic Mist of Destruction's Arjan's Haze#2 x Kalimist and Arjan's Haze#2 x NL5 Haze grow! Ducksfoot, White Russian, Guava #1 & some of HOTC's lovin'! AFRICAN GROWERS UNITE! Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis Seed Germination/Position for the Newbies!
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02-11-2006, 09:41 PM	#2
Druid TechnoChronic Geek Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Planet Hemp Posts: 58	Nice! Aren't ladybugs also good insects for your garden? __________________ "It really puzzles me to see Marijuana connected with Narcotics - Dope and all that crap…it's a thousand times better than whiskey - it's an Assistant - a friend."- Louis Armstrong
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02-11-2006, 09:56 PM	#5
highonthechroni C Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Basking under the great African sun Posts: 1,429	some pics of my little friends! __________________ HighOnTheChronic Mist of Destruction's Arjan's Haze#2 x Kalimist and Arjan's Haze#2 x NL5 Haze grow! Ducksfoot, White Russian, Guava #1 & some of HOTC's lovin'! AFRICAN GROWERS UNITE! Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis Seed Germination/Position for the Newbies!
	Quote

02-12-2006, 12:03 AM	#6
PassionForMaryJ Eternal~Wisdom~Seeker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere In Sativa-Ville Posts: 187	Nice post HOTC I have a few ladybugs in my vegg area, I use the horrid no cancer strip, sorry I mean no pest strip, I hear it can cause cancer, but I am never in my flowering room long... I once considered introducing nematodes.... I introduced 2 or 3 ladybugs about 2 months or so ago in the vegg area, and they are still there going strong, they are always tending to my ladies I love beneficial insects! Again great post!! __________________ Medicate, Meditate, Alleviate! My Old Grow Log on IC Questions about plant grow lighting article Complete Guide to Sick Plants,pH, and Pest troubles : by Stitch Understanding Light Energy for Plant Growth ~PFMJ~ 420/24-7/365 = A good medicated, happy, high life!! ______________________________ ____________ Some great 3LB threads I recreated using googles cached pages, this info by 3LB is priceless IMO!! Info below is 3LB's, not my own 3LB's Molasses Info 3LB's Scoop on Poop 3LB in their JOG - the organic Jungle of Green
	Quote

02-12-2006, 12:10 AM	#7
highonthechroni C Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Basking under the great African sun Posts: 1,429	hey PFMJ! thanks for the kind words. maybe i'll do a ladybug thread soon! hmm.. wonder if yours are gonna start reproducing..? __________________ HighOnTheChronic Mist of Destruction's Arjan's Haze#2 x Kalimist and Arjan's Haze#2 x NL5 Haze grow! Ducksfoot, White Russian, Guava #1 & some of HOTC's lovin'! AFRICAN GROWERS UNITE! Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis Seed Germination/Position for the Newbies!
	Quote

02-11-2006, 09:44 PM	#3
Guest423 Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,304	predators rule....i've tried toxic sprays, organic sprays, neem....for thrips,mites ect. and nothing beats the predators.....if you got a problem there is a predator for all of them....they work everytime. peace
	Quote

02-12-2006, 12:25 AM	#8
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Praying Mantis egg pods are available at Home Depot (So.Cali) for $4.00.... around 200 of the little medieval bastards per egg pod. Lady bugs are cool...spray some coca cola on their wings so they are sticky and they don't fly off ..... it wears off after a while and they will get back to whoring around after the cola wears off in a week or so .......
	Quote

02-12-2006, 12:29 AM	#9
highonthechroni C Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Basking under the great African sun Posts: 1,429	LOL @ coca-cola! shame. __________________ HighOnTheChronic Mist of Destruction's Arjan's Haze#2 x Kalimist and Arjan's Haze#2 x NL5 Haze grow! Ducksfoot, White Russian, Guava #1 & some of HOTC's lovin'! AFRICAN GROWERS UNITE! Precious Predators - the Praying Mantid/Mantis Seed Germination/Position for the Newbies!
	Quote

02-12-2006, 01:34 AM	#10
PassionForMaryJ Eternal~Wisdom~Seeker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere In Sativa-Ville Posts: 187	Somebody must watch Mythbusters, lol Very welcome HOTC, I think they are reproducing.. I hope so anyway! A lil ladybug info The pupal stage may last from three to 12 days depending on the temperature and species. The adults emerge, mate, and search for prey or prepare for hibernation, depending on the availability of prey and time of year. Adults may live for a few months to over a year. The more common species typically have one to two generations per year. Take care and happy growing HOTC!! __________________ Medicate, Meditate, Alleviate! My Old Grow Log on IC Questions about plant grow lighting article Complete Guide to Sick Plants,pH, and Pest troubles : by Stitch Understanding Light Energy for Plant Growth ~PFMJ~ 420/24-7/365 = A good medicated, happy, high life!! ______________________________ ____________ Some great 3LB threads I recreated using googles cached pages, this info by 3LB is priceless IMO!! Info below is 3LB's, not my own 3LB's Molasses Info 3LB's Scoop on Poop 3LB in their JOG - the organic Jungle of Green
	Quote