Bruise?

[meaganelise9]

I'm not sure if it's possible for a mantis to bruise.. My b mendica looks like it has a bruise on his raptorial leg. Perhaps I moved onto crickets too soon?

It seems to be working fine for now and it's only about L4ish.. It's kind of a blue spot. Think he's in any danger?

 

[Termite48]

Just keep an eye on the spot to see if it grows larger. If it does get worse rather than better, your B. mendica could have more than a bruise. It is a good idea now to discontinue the crix and give it BBs. Only give it a few at a time, because they can be a pest if the Mantid is not eating them. Increase the heat a tad and you should be ok. Be sure to keep the mantid hydrated.

 

[meaganelise9]

Thanks!

 

[meaganelise9]

I was looking for photos of other people's thistles to see what their armpits look like (which led me Back to the forum- funny), and I came across this one:

Perhaps I'm worrying myself over a totally normal marking. :/

 

[MandellaMandy123]

All my mantids have markings right there I think they are so scare away predators during a threat display. Not sure though

 

[PhilinYuma]

"Perhaps I'm worrying myself over a totally normal marking. :/ "

Yes, I'm glad to say that in this case, you probably are! Mantidsdon't have vascular skin, so they can't get bruises. Sometimes, particularly in orchids, black spots develop on the mantid's exoskeleton due to necrosis (gangrene), but I don't think that that is happening to yours.