The Chinese mantis hatchlings, which quite unexpectedly overran my house a few weeks ago, are growing like crazy. If all goes well, this cohort should be laying eggs by spring, and thus I should be able to return them to my garden (although they are an introduced species, Chinese mantids are already well established in my neighborhood, and thus I don’t feel too terrible about releasing them.)

How do I know when my mantis have reached sexual maturity? How will I recognize the last molt?
5/6 more to go… They should reach adulthood by late February/mid March. Nice, ever-hungry mantis!