Body language

[meaganelise9]

Mantids do a lot of specific things, and I try to pay attention to when they do what. Sometimes the antennae are pinned back all the way (usually when hunting). Sometimes they're totally upright. When my ghost is on my hand the antennae seem to vibrate.

What body language have you noticed and when?

 

[gripen]

Threat pose means I will eat your face

 

[hibiscusmile]

yea, seeing if u are edible

 

[CoolMantid]

When they (Dance) Move to the left and right they are checking out their surroudings and looking for a place to jump

 

[meaganelise9]

Gotta love the dancin'.

 

[CoolMantid]

I love the dancing until I get a bug on my face

 

[meaganelise9]

Haha you don't like bugs on your face? Can't say I've had that happen. Bug on the camera, yes.

 

[agent A]

it's all fun and games until a raptoral claw jabs your eye...

 

[bobericc]

Had a family member pretend to throw something at me while holding the budwing and she flattened out.

I seen the heterochaeta get defensive looking at the remote when I changed the channel or the phone when I use it near him lol..

recently an Oxyo jumped from my hand onto my face, down to my shoulder and back to my hand in half a second, that messed with me

Some funny mantoids

 

[gripen]

it's all fun and games until a raptoral claw jabs your eye...

Yes lol! Bad idolo...

 

[Chivalry]

I've also noted a raptorial wave that means they're about to jump or at least run upward, in several species; in some of my more friendly guys this seems to evolve into "I want to go up/on your hand, bring it over here." Russ has his double shield "trained" to do loop-de-loops from upright on one hand to upside down on the other. Hours of entertainment.

The head tucked with raptorials tight against it seems to be an alarm reaction or at least "I'm not so sure about this."

I have a couple who check things out with their antennae forward. My gambians and ghosts' antennae are always vibrating.

I've also gotten to where I can tell when they're looking for water, they kind of flatten out and check out the surface they're on.

Having some kept communally is definitely an education in body language. I'm fascinated that there are some things that seem to be consistent across species and some things that are a little different. Flower species and cone-eyed species are definitely more interested in what's above them.

 

[sinensispsyched]

When I had my blue flash out on my arm and my dog walked by, he flattened himself out and scuttled, like a crab, to the top of my arm.

When they are feeding (previously noted) they will pin their antennae flat against their body to keep out of a biting cricket's grasp.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I love the dancing until I get a bug on my face

There is a reason I call them facehuggers. :tt2:

 

[sinensispsyched]

You mean facebuggers!

 

[meaganelise9]

I think someone needs to make an animated gif of this- just a giant mantis jumping onto someone's face on repeat. That would be hilar.

 

[sinensispsyched]

That's a good idea!

 

[CoolMantid]

Needs to be done