spiraleyes Posted November 26, 2002 is there anywhere in australia that anyone knows of that sells mantid egg sacks? ive seen them on the net but they seem to be all exotic. i would love to hatch some of these guys to release in my garden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterdragon Posted November 26, 2002 maybe diversify the type and amount of plants growing in your garden, i've been planting lots of different buddlias lately - these attract many different insects: butterflies obviously but also praying mantis by the dozen and trippy white spiders,etc. if you're still having sourcing issues in the near future i'll send you some via the post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted November 26, 2002 I'd send you some too, but I doubt subtropical species would appreciate your winters. Diversity and lack of pesticides usually attracts them quickly. Being a predator they need pests for food, but will also die from accumulating any residual pesticides in their bodies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiraleyes Posted November 26, 2002 no chemicals in my garden. but my garden is not that huge at the moment due to living arrangements. mantids or egg sacks WD? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted November 26, 2002 I have a praying mantis in my garden for years and my guess would be that I have loads of insects in there attracted to loads of the native plants I have put in it when I arrived. I haven't seen it for a while tho, maybe the geckos got it. I'll send you some eggs if she has them. E D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterdragon Posted November 27, 2002 re mantids or egg sacks - the green mantis fronts up long before i can spot the eggs so they'd be live, the big fawn buggers are easy as adults or eggs and there's a reddish creature that i could send if i get any this year. ladybirds would be easy as well, i put plenty of them in the hothouse earlier in the season now there's dozens all over the place. also if anyone wants slaters by the cupful just sing out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterdragon Posted November 27, 2002 ...and just on the diversity issue: i've noticed that the more varieties of plants that i put in - the more varieties of insect they seem to attract. this year most of them are beating a path to the various types of salvia that i planted, i'm seeing creatures that i've never seen before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiraleyes Posted November 27, 2002 http://www.eatbug.com/recipes.htm two eggs half of cup of self raising flour three cups of slaters.. a pinch of ants etc etc Mmmmmmm...mmmm..mmmmmm i wont eat the mantids,i promise Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted November 30, 2002 few weeks ago,i saw an egg hatching. the egg resembles a chiton (those, trilobites like thingies at the the rockpools)about an inche long. more than 50 babys emerged within minutes. they grow fast. so if u c something oval brown attached to a leave or so.... dont remove it,its a blessing not a pest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted December 1, 2002 Originally posted by planthelper: so if u c something oval brown attached to a leave or so.... dont remove it,its a blessing not a pest! Unless it's a pest of course Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
