CLOSED: Don't need an ID; just wanted to share this

echinops Logansport, IN(Zone 5b) Aug 21, 2008

This drifted from the heavens right in front of my face today. Althought I've seen many mantises in different sizes and colors, this is the first time I've ever, ever seen a shed skin....there it was, floating in a mild breeze:

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evie_beevie Essex Junction, VT(Zone 4a) Aug 22, 2008

Wow, that's incredible. Such a rare moment. Thanks for sharing!

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Laurie19 Caledonia, OH(Zone 5a) Aug 22, 2008

Thats really cool I too have a mantid skin I found it in a spider web it sound funny but I thought the spider sucked it dry but then I realized that would be impossible to leave just the exoskeleton and it wasn't even wrapped. I put it in a jar to share it with friends and family.

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butterflybuddy Westford, MA Aug 23, 2008

That's really neat! My area isn't half as cool... but some of my neighbor's kids found a "baby praying mantis" and they decided to homeschool it... cute kids

:)

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Sep 08, 2008

Oh, wow. You know, as much as I've seen photos of babies and adults and read about their eating habits (hummingbirds!) and mating habits, I've never seen a carapace. I never even thought about them molting, to tell you the truth! How neat to have found it floating on a breeze, too.

My crayfish molted again last week: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=molt&w=84398784%40N00 Not quite the same, but in the same theme, anyway! LOL

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echinops Logansport, IN(Zone 5b) Sep 08, 2008

Hey, the crayfish molt is really neat! Very clean tank, too. Makes mine look like Los Angeles in July in comparison.
How long have you had the crayfish and what did you do with the molted exoskeleton?
You know, DG is a pretty great place; just think, where else can you find regular old people sharing pictures of carapices?

This message was edited Sep 8, 2008 6:07 PM

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Sep 09, 2008

And there are people who want to see them! =D

We've had Laretta the Crustacean Formerly Known As Larry for 13 months. I found an old picture I took of her the day I bought her, when she was a scant 2 1/2 or 3" long and blue. We leave the exoskeleton in the tank, for she feeds on it and that helps harden her new one. She's very good at catching fish; we only have two left, a little zebra danio and a blue gourami who's wised up to the sudden decline in tankmates and steers clear of her. We want to get more fish, but they need to be ones that tend to stay up toward the top of the tank. Laretta's fascinating and fun to watch, so she takes precedence in there.

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