A mismolt or what?

[Graz73]

OK, so I have been enjoying the care of wild caught mantis' for a couple years now and think I know a decent amount about the local Ohio varieties, but what is going on with this one?

She lives outside my office on this shrub. As you can see, her wings look strange. I am guessing that they are deformed or maybe that she mismolted? If not, maybe she escaped a run in with a predator?

I have caught a couple grasshoppers and stuck them in her bush. She gobbled them up pretty quickly as soon as she could catch them.

Also seems like she has one lifeless arm.

-LOU

 

[BugLover]

Looks like she mismolted

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Looks like a mild molting problem. The wings didn't properly pump after she emerged from her old exoskeleton and that resulted in crinkling.

 

[Graz73]

OK, so its about a month later and that mis-molted mantis is still living outside of our office. We've been feeding it grasshoppers almost every day which she seems to enjoy.

Anyway, its getting really cold now here in Ohio. Bits of snow in the air and all that.

SO: should I take her inside and see if I can get an egg sac from her? Or just leave her in her shrub? Other ideas?

 

[Sticky]

I would bring her in. She looks like a good pet to me.

 

[Danny.]

Leave her in the shrub...

 

[Extrememantid]

Bring her, she will live longer and be more likely to lay an ooth