News and Stories

Welcome, insect enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the captivating world of mantis confiscations! World of the Insect keeper, April recently took on an incredibly unique challenge – the care and management of 9 orchid mantis oothecas, each one a treasure trove of potential life. These egg cases came from a USFWS confiscation, and with each case holding dozens of potential hatchlings, our team’s work quickly went from fascinating to intense.

It wasn’t long before 5 of the 9 oothecas, each containing dozens of teeny tiny eggs, began to hatch, bringing forth an impressive 250 delicate orchid mantis nymphs. Orchid mantises, known for their exquisite beauty and striking resemblance to orchid flowers, are also notorious for their very particular care needs. These hatchlings needed specialized diets and individualized housing as they grew, making their care both challenging and thrilling for our team. Orchid mantises will only eat flying prey so our team rears fruit flies, house flies, flesh flies, wax moths and soldier flies in order to have a range of different sized prey items for the different life stages of each mantis.

As the mantises matured, each one required its own tiny enclosure to prevent cannibalism (yes, mantises can be quite voracious, even outside of the stereotypical mating cannibalism). A huge chunk of April’s days became a careful balance of feeding, observing, and creating bespoke living conditions for these growing mantises.

After months of meticulous care, the confiscation case was settled and the decision was made to share these incredible creatures with other zoos, ensuring that this species thrives in conservation programs across the country. April shipped 110 orchid mantises to 5 other AZA accredited zoos over the past 3 weeks.

But these aren’t your ordinary animal shipments! Orchid mantises require specialized housing during their journey to ensure they’re safe, warm, and comfortable. There is a high likelihood that some of the mantises will molt in transit so April had to affix screen to the inside of each container so these mantises could safely hang while molting. These custom-made containers were created for each animal in each shipment! Heat packs were added to maintain a cozy temperature during their overnight transit. It’s a delicate process, as the mantises are very sensitive to changes in their environment.

Each shipment was also accompanied by USDA-APHIS-PPQ permits, a vital part of the legal process to ensure the safe and legal transport of these extraordinary insects. These permits are essential for the interstate transfer of any species, ensuring everything is above board and aligned with regulations that protect native ecosystems and prevent the spread of invasive species.

But the work doesn’t end here! Orchid mantises, like many other species, face threats from overcollection for the pet trade. This species has seen a significant decline in the wild due to illegal trapping and export, making conservation efforts even more critical. To safeguard the future of the orchid mantis, the zoos involved in this project have come together to form a SWARM – the Safety Web for Arthropod Reproduction and Management. This collaborative effort will ensure that the orchid mantis population across multiple zoos is genetically healthy, sustainable, and protected from overexploitation. By maintaining populations in zoo settings, they aim to bolster conservation efforts and educate the public about the importance of these fascinating insects.

We’d like to take a moment to recognize the keeper behind this impressive feat. Thank you, April! From hatching delicate egg cases to ensuring safe and efficient shipments, her commitment to preserving and propagating the orchid mantis species is a testament to the hard work that goes into caring for such unique and vulnerable creatures. It’s a reminder that every species, no matter how small, plays a role in the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

Remember – even the tiniest of creatures can make a big impact in the world of conservation!