Questions submitted by our readers & the answers
Q: What are you feeding Bolt and how often does she eat? -Dr. Laurie J. Curtis, K-State University
A: We are feeding her moths, boxelder bugs, and crickets. Sometimes she eats 2 crickets in a day, and other days she eats only 1 per day or every other day.
Q:Where do praying mantis's (plural=manti?)normally live in the winter? Are they able to survive the cold winters like humans, or do they hibernate? -Mrs. Snell (Andover High School)
A: Praying mantids (plural for mantis) do not hibernate in the winter. They can't survive in the winter.
Q: Where do praying mantises live in the wild? trees, grass, rocks? -Mr. Rees (Principal at Northern Hills Elementary School)
A: Praying mantids live in trees, grass, flowers, and rocks. A brown praying mantis might be on tree bark or branches. A green praying mantis might be on a green leaf or grass. A pink praying mantis might be on pink flowers.
Q: I am wondering if Bolt will have to take care of her babies once they are born. Because I think that would be a LOT of work. -Mrs. Rogala (Teacher at Northern Hills Elementary School)
A: Bolt will not take care of her babies. In the wild, she would not survive the winter to see them hatch in the spring. We will let them go when they come out of the ootheca (egg sac).
Q: How big can a praying mantis grow? Does Bolt allow visitor's? How long does Bolt live for? And finally are they poisonous? -Ms. Seubert (Teacher at Onalaska High School)
A: Praying mantids typically can get up to 8 inches long. Bolt does allow allow visitors! Contact us to let us know when! No, praying mantids are not poisonous.
Q: Is it okay to pick up any praying mantis? Is there a chance that they might bite? If a praying mantis could survive winters, for how long would it stay alive? -David
A: It is okay to pick up a praying mantis gently. They should not bite, but you could get pinched by the spikes on their front legs. We have read that the natural lifespan is 10-12 months, but in captivity can live up to 14 months!
A: We are feeding her moths, boxelder bugs, and crickets. Sometimes she eats 2 crickets in a day, and other days she eats only 1 per day or every other day.
Q:Where do praying mantis's (plural=manti?)normally live in the winter? Are they able to survive the cold winters like humans, or do they hibernate? -Mrs. Snell (Andover High School)
A: Praying mantids (plural for mantis) do not hibernate in the winter. They can't survive in the winter.
Q: Where do praying mantises live in the wild? trees, grass, rocks? -Mr. Rees (Principal at Northern Hills Elementary School)
A: Praying mantids live in trees, grass, flowers, and rocks. A brown praying mantis might be on tree bark or branches. A green praying mantis might be on a green leaf or grass. A pink praying mantis might be on pink flowers.
Q: I am wondering if Bolt will have to take care of her babies once they are born. Because I think that would be a LOT of work. -Mrs. Rogala (Teacher at Northern Hills Elementary School)
A: Bolt will not take care of her babies. In the wild, she would not survive the winter to see them hatch in the spring. We will let them go when they come out of the ootheca (egg sac).
Q: How big can a praying mantis grow? Does Bolt allow visitor's? How long does Bolt live for? And finally are they poisonous? -Ms. Seubert (Teacher at Onalaska High School)
A: Praying mantids typically can get up to 8 inches long. Bolt does allow allow visitors! Contact us to let us know when! No, praying mantids are not poisonous.
Q: Is it okay to pick up any praying mantis? Is there a chance that they might bite? If a praying mantis could survive winters, for how long would it stay alive? -David
A: It is okay to pick up a praying mantis gently. They should not bite, but you could get pinched by the spikes on their front legs. We have read that the natural lifespan is 10-12 months, but in captivity can live up to 14 months!