How to Hatch a Praying Mantis

If anything, praying mantises are known for one thing: that the female devours the male after mating. They have other beneficial qualities, however: not only can they make charming pets, but a steady population of mantises in your garden can easily reduce the local pest population. Before praying mantises can be raised, however, they must first be hatched.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place your egg case outside or in a terrarium (if you intend to keep some as pets). Your can fashion a terrarium out of any container--a jam jar or a fish bowl, for example--as long as you leave a small branch inside for the nymphs to climb. Place mesh over the top that prevents nymphs from escaping but allows for food delivery and air flow.

    • 2

      Keep your egg case at a temperature of about 67 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and out of direct sunlight. Inside, this is best achieved by a heating mat. Outside, hang the egg case in the shade.

    • 3

      Maintain a humid atmosphere. Mist your terrarium lightly with water every day. If the proper conditions are maintained, your egg case should hatch in approximately 3 to 6 weeks.

    • 4

      When they hatch, a single egg case can hold anywhere from 50 to 200 praying mantis nymphs. If you intend to keep some as pets, release all but a few nymphs within the first two days.

    • 5

      Feed your future pets with small insects at first--aphids and flies, for example. Your nymphs will grow quickly, as will their appetite; adjust their portions and diet accordingly.