I wish to get some praying mantis to help my garden but also to experience their birth and growth, Is it worth it to purchase like a mantis pagoda for them to hatch in? I have been told that if you put the egg sack outside the rain etc can ruin it. thanks for your time Marilyn I wish to get some praying mantis to help my garden but also to experience their birth and growth, Is it worth it to purchase like a mantis pagoda for them to hatch in? I have been told that if... » Read More I wish to get some praying mantis to help my garden but also to experience their birth and growth, Is it worth it to purchase like a mantis pagoda for them to hatch in? I have been told that if you put the egg sack outside the rain etc can ruin it. thanks for your time Marilyn « Show Less
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Marilyn, I purchased five praying mantis egg cases a few weeks ago, and I placed them in my vegetable gardens. They all hatched and there for a while I had zillions. (One case hatched on my dining room table overnight. I was sitting at the table and saw probably a couple hundred on my shirt, arms and plate! It was funny. I gathered them up on a sheet of paper best I could.) They are wonderful to watch. You might keep some in a terrarium, but the little guys start eating each other pretty soon. So after they hatch in the terrarium, take ' em outside and remove the lid. All mine are outside now, and occaisionally, one will stop by and say "hello"., a little bigger than before. Have fun!Tom Marilyn, I purchased five praying mantis egg cases a few weeks ago, and I placed them in my vegetable gardens. They all hatched and there for a while I had zillions. (One case hatched on my dining room table overnight. I was sitting at the table and saw probably a couple hundred on my shirt, arms and plate! It was funny. I gathered them up on a sheet of paper best I could.) They are wonderful to watch. You might keep some in a terrarium, but the little guys start eating each other pretty soon. So after they hatch in the terrarium, take ' em outside and remove the lid. All mine are... » Read More Marilyn, I purchased five praying mantis egg cases a few weeks ago, and I placed them in my vegetable gardens. They all hatched and there for a while I had zillions. (One case hatched on my dining room table overnight. I was sitting at the table and saw probably a couple hundred on my shirt, arms and plate! It was funny. I gathered them up on a sheet of paper best I could.) They are wonderful to watch. You might keep some in a terrarium, but the little guys start eating each other pretty soon. So after they hatch in the terrarium, take ' em outside and remove the lid. All mine are outside now, and occaisionally, one will stop by and say "hello"., a little bigger than before. Have fun!Tom « Show Less
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I placed ours in a clear plastic container with holes and left it outside in the shade until they hatched. We then enjoyed playing with them for a bit before putting them to work in our garden.
1342510
We eat straight from the garden also and haven't noticed any eggs. I believe the ladybugs lay their eggs on the leaves...so eat up!
1677012
I have kept a baby crested gecko in one and I fed him fruit flies. I had no problem, but perhaps that depends on the size of the flies. but yes it will keep the mantis in . its built well, and is very hard to escape from. good luck.....
271606
It's probably not as good at "catching" as it is keeping bugs after the catch. We've had 2 hatches in this and my son loves it.
1289089
We battled the wasps for years with chemical sprays and still they would come back. This year I put these up in early summer and have had NO problem. I believe they work best when you get them up early, before others start building their nests. Because they are territorial I would be careful while setting up after you already have wasps nearby. I think they will go away but might put up a fight with whoever is carrying the new "nest". Take care and good luck. I wouldn't trade mine for gold now. :)
1884514
We've raised thousands from eggs and we put them in a small brown paper bag with a paper clip on top and put them in a window but Not in direct sun. After a few weeks (and we check every day) you will hear the babies crawling around inside so we just take the bag outside to where we want to place them..carefully rip the bag open lengthwise and lay it on the ground. By the end of the day..most have found their way out and about, and if not, scoot the remainder off of the bag. Have fun!
408803
i planted mine in the ground and it isn't doing well. It survived the winter [Waco area] but has not put on new growth. Bugs have eaten some foliage. If I had it to do over I would plant in a pot.
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It sounds like you are doing everything right-- offering a water source and trees and shrubs for shelter. Timing could be the issue here. Birds can be pretty suspicious of anything new, and it will take time before they will eat from the feeder (especially since their natural food sources are becoming available as we get further into spring). Just please make sure you are keeping the seed in the feeder fresh-- maybe keep a little less seed in the feeder and change it every few days until you start to get some visitors. Also, are you seeing Finches at any of your other feeders? If not, you may attract them to your area by planting some milkweed or composite plants. It sounds like you are doing everything right-- offering a water source and trees and shrubs for shelter. Timing could be the issue here. Birds can be pretty suspicious of anything new, and it will take time before they will eat from the feeder (especially since their natural food sources are becoming available as we get further into spring). Just please make sure you are keeping the seed in the feeder fresh-- maybe keep a little less seed in the feeder and change it every few days until you start to get some visitors. Also, are you seeing Finches at any of your other feeders? If not, you... » Read More It sounds like you are doing everything right-- offering a water source and trees and shrubs for shelter. Timing could be the issue here. Birds can be pretty suspicious of anything new, and it will take time before they will eat from the feeder (especially since their natural food sources are becoming available as we get further into spring). Just please make sure you are keeping the seed in the feeder fresh-- maybe keep a little less seed in the feeder and change it every few days until you start to get some visitors. Also, are you seeing Finches at any of your other feeders? If not, you may attract them to your area by planting some milkweed or composite plants. « Show Less
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Hi Tim, I wanted to try a biological rather than spraying so I ordered ladybugs. I ordered them last year as there was quite an infestation on my hydrangeas. They did a good job cleaning up the aphids and I did see the next generation on my birch tree, but most of them moved on or died ( actually there were quite a few dead when they arrived)...I'm not sure how long a ladybug actually lives but if there isn't enough "food" to sustain them they do move on. I released some of them onto my holly bushes, but they did not stay there at all.
1607659
Do wait until it is safe to released the babies outside as soon as they hatch. I used the included bag and placed it in a light window. They did not hatch until I placed the bag outside in the sun. I used just one egg and probably had around a hundred babies! They are very small! I never saw them again after I released in my garden, but they were alive and active at that point. Great project for little ones. Maybe each child could take 2 or 3 home to release in a small cup with a lid.
48980
I have 2 closed terrariums made with this assortment of live moss. It hasn't happened to me. Must have been shipped with dormant larvae that hatched. The bugs shouldn't hurt anything, I don't think.
2141598
At least you got something to hatch. I was unable to hatch anything. I think the eggs are not viable any more. In my experience triops are hardier than daphnia so that's probably the reason you got at least a few of those to hatch.
682075
I have done mantis eggs in the classroom. I ordered them and put them in the fridge until I was ready and they both hatched. I do agree with the previous posters answer, although I was told by the company I ordered them from that they would eat each other if no other food was provided. However, they did say that when hatched the mantids would have enough nutrients to survive and live harmoniously for what I think was a week. After around a week in the classroom, I took them home and let them go. It was awesome to see them throughout the summer!
1155102
I never tried hatching reptiles..what i know is, it holds temperature well and didn't fluctuate too much..so if you set it to the correct temperature and humidity..and turn them as you should then i don't see why it would be much different.
1814939
That's exactly what happens. I had a Sparrow that laid an egg and it hatched into a cute baby bird. Then the mommy bird got spooked and never came back and the baby bird died of starvation. I had a curtain behind the window and made sure to be quiet. I think it is a very risky design that is not good for the birds.
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Hi, honestly Ive always heard that a stone birdbath is ok outside as long as there is no water in it that may freeze, thereby possibly cracking the bowl. SI think this birdbath is too beautiful to chance it,and if it needs to be empty anyway,why risk it. We brought ours in and stored it for winter. We'll put it out in the next few days. Enjoy!
2100171
they do come already grown. they are very small and I was slightly disappointed in the way they were packed. some had come out of their little pots and most were pretty root bound. not a big deal if you have the time to replant almost immediately. there was also no identification of which cacti was what. I'm kind of anal about my plants and like to know what they are. googling cacti is like a needle in a haystack, the thousands of varieties that exist. also if you're looking for "pretty" as opposed to "interesting" cacti, I did not receive any pretty ones. hope that helps. they do come already grown. they are very small and I was slightly disappointed in the way they were packed. some had come out of their little pots and most were pretty root bound. not a big deal if you have the time to replant almost immediately. there was also no identification of which cacti was what. I'm kind of anal about my plants and like to know what they are. googling cacti is like a needle in a haystack, the thousands of varieties that exist. also if you're looking for "pretty" as opposed to "interesting" cacti, I did not receive any pretty ones. hope that helps.