Are mantises aware of us?

[Saebjorn9]

In the wild, I'd assume a mantis wouldn't think twice of getting closer to a larger mammal or bird. But with my captive chinese female. She is always willing to climb all over me. I'll perch her on the lid of her cage and she'll actively come closer to me and try and climb on me. Are they "aware" that we're even alive? What makes them so "friendly" towards us. I can't possibly think a mantis would be smart enough to discern friend from foe like a cat or dog.

 

[Rick]

I see this alot on here. I believe they are not coming towards you because they want human contact, but instead you're the highest perch nearby. Yes they are aware. Wild ones will often stretch out their front legs or flatten themselves when you come near in order to hide better. They will keep a close watch as well.

 

[rs4guy]

Yea I noticed my orchids "flatten" out whenever I approach their deli cups. They definitely know we are there, but I doubt they have the ability to individualize....

 

[Ntsees]

When you approach a mantid and it turns it's head to look at you, you know it's aware of you.

 

[minomantis]

Mantids are definitely aware of us! Maybe not in the "this is my care taker" but more probably in the "what's this big thing coming closer to me." lol I believe mantids can remember routines though. For example, if you pick them up all the time or feed them all the time, they can be accustomed to it and wont act nearly as wild as they would if you were to just find one.

 

[Rick]

I do see a huge difference in the behavior of wild caught vs captive bred mantids. Wild caught often fight to escape their cages while in my experience captive bred do not.

 

[MantidLord]

Yeah, and very rarely will a wild caught just rest on my hand or arm. I think they may get "used" to contact or living in captivity, but I definitely don't think it's any compassion or even that they recognize "this is my caretaker who gives me food".

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Interesting the differences some people see in wild versus captive. Personally the wild ones I've happened upon have seemed as curious and relaxed around me as my captive raised ones. It was this docile nature when I was handling caught ones that first got me into mantises as a kid. Unlike Rick I haven't noticed much of a difference between my wild caught and captive raised mantises. All the wild caught ones I have kept however have been Chinese and they tend to be a very active species. My wild ones have been no more eager to get out of their cage than my captive ones. I find the Chinese as are constantly ready to go exploring.

I agree that mantises do enjoy climbing up, but I have on many occasions had a mantis choose to climb down to me even though there was still plenty of vertical space for them to go to.

 

[mantisboy]

Hehehe....yes, we have had this discussion before. I believe after a very short period of time captive Mantids go neutral in their fight or flight response. Through handling and exposure to humans the trigger responses to us as a threat subside. I find this to be the most rewarding aspect of Mantid ownership if it were different I probably wouldn't have one.

 

[Saebjorn9]

I released a couple hundred into my backyard after they hatched from ooths. Whenever I find one of them I'll get close and it'll flattent itself. Once I get him on my hand they constantly jump off me and try and escape. Yet about a day or 2 of being in their cage and seeing me/being fed, they stop trying to escape. But in response to idahomantid, I completely agree, if they still tried to escape at every chance they got, I definitely wouldn't be as interested in them as i am. The fact that they have some sort of intelligence just makes it all the more rewarding to have them!