[sci.bio] Praying Mantis

moses@hao.ucar.edu (Julie Moses) (10/20/90)

We found a praying mantis before the frost and have been keeping it in
our window greenhouse for the last few weeks. It's large around four
inches long. Is this a chinese variety? We've fed it live flies, a wasp,
and a few grasshoppers. How much does it need to eat? Today, the mantis
layed what appears to be an egg-sac on the underside of one of the metal
shelves in the window. Can we remove the eggs to a jar? When will the
eggs hatch? Will the mantis soon die after laying her eggs? If we 
refridgerate the eggs will they last till spring when we can put them
outside? 

Please send me email as I don't regularly read this forum.
Thanks,
Julie Moses
moses@hao.ucar.edu