Hierodula majuscula L5-L6 female molt picture

[maybon]

Got out of the shower today and witnessed my Hierodula majuscula female almost done with her molt, snapped a quick photo on the iphone.

Is it normal for them to still be that fat after molting? All my mantids are well fed on roaches, I offer one per day and take it out after about two minutes if not eaten (she is a pig though). It was only 1 week between L4-L5 and L5-L6 molt for her as well.

 

[patrickfraser]

She's fat because she's inflated with air used to split the old skin and enlarge the body for hardening. She'll be thinner when she hardens up.

 

[maybon]

Well I guess that explains it, she is slightly less "bloated" now.

 

[CoolMantid]

My female is still sub adult but it eating again :clap:

 

[Mvalenz]

Awesome pic.

My majusculas molted as well. But they slightly mismolted. One prothorax is a little crooked and the other one that molted didn't get its back right leg out completely. But they can hunt and eat on there own so they should be fine.