Carolina males dying?

[GreenOasis]

So, I have already lost one Carolina male earlier last month (just dropped dead after not eating for a day) and I figured the rest would start dropping like flies, but, they've hung around...unfortunately, they're chewing off their own limbs now. Is this a normal behavior for older male Carolinas? One guy has chewed off one entire raptor arm (over a period of a few days) & another has chewed off a couple of his rear legs (but didn't eat them, unlike the previous male).

I'm wondering if I should allow them to continue doing this or put them out of their misery? (And into the freezer.) I can't imagine they do this to themselves in the wild...probably just die of cold or something...so, is it a result of old-age in captivity?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Thanks!

-Carey Kurtz-

 

[yen_saw]

You have done a great job keeping the adult male alive this far into the season. Aging adult males prone to have cut and bruise on the body, some might have got infected. Chewing off their own limb sometimes safe their life from avoiding the infection from spreading into other part of the body. It is not uncommon this happen eventhough mantis clean up their body part (especially the front legs) often. However, taking off part of the limbs doesn't mean the mantis will survive 100%. but able to prolong their life a little longer.

 

[LauraMG]

I've just had my 2 drop dead within 24 hours of each other. Just came home and found the second one. They didn't munch on themselves first though, so I would trust Yen's opinion on that one!