Ecdysis

Excellent set of photos there. These are the best pics I've seen in years of a Mantis shedding (the others were from a book about Mantises I found in a school library that ironically enough, featured this species). How long did this process take? I've never had the opportunity to see a large Mantis species make the final shed before. Does it take longer than with smaller species? Again, great work with these pics, and good luck with your bugs.

Hello again Chris, I think the sloughing process takes a little longer with larger mantids but they shed so quickly the difference is negligable, the newly emerged adult, though, then has to wait for its new exoskeleton to harden sufficiently enough for it to safely turn and face upwards so it can pump blood into its crumpled wings to expand & harden them.Then it draws the blood back out and lets them harden fully.This adds a little more time.I took these photos about 15 years ago in march in the south of England, very hardy mantis species, the nymphs were running around in the greenhouse in feb.

Cheers Gary