African Twig Mantis
(Popa spurca) Family- Mantidae.
The
following pictures are of a female Popa spurca,
which have died due to an old age, although when
I opened her up, it looked like she should have
being still able to produce one more ootheca.
First, I have pinned her
on her back, to cut her abdomen, as i wanted to
dry her in the up-right position.
I have secured her abdomen to make sure that is
does not move so that i can start cleaning it out.
After cleaning her out, it was very important to
take as much moisture as possible. The less moisture
possible will mean less descoloration in the drying
process.
After making sure what there are no hallow spaces
in her, i closed her abdomen up.
I then flipped her in the up-right position, and
made sure to pin everything down firmly.
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