Clipping?

[BugLover]

Ok first; I DON'T want to hurt a mantis. I just want to know if this is something you could do without hurting them, just to keep them from going too far.

I don't have any adult males right now, but would it be acceptable to "clip" their wings like you do a birds? I've heard they like to fly. Just curious, if It would hurt a mantis in any way I won't do it.

 

[patrickfraser]

The difference between clipping a bird's wings and a mantis is that a mantis has hemolymph (bug blood) throughout the veins from body to tip of wings. Birds do not. You risk causing the mantis to "bleed out" if clipped.

Bugs don't feel pain, so you would only end up killing it.

 

[thalassarche]

What Patrick said. I have a parrot whose wings I've clipped in the past. The feathers are technically dead tissue, like hair, so cutting them doesn't damage them. But they also regrow, so it's a process that needs repeating. But the structure of mantis wings means there is that hemolymph supply throughout the structure and therefore it does do physical damage that could lead to infection and other problems.

(I don't clip my parrot anymore because I find he's a happier, more well-adjusted bird when he is able to fly. Also because clipping his wings is a pain in the rear that ends with me bitten and him grumpy. :surrender: )

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I personally doubt a mantis would bleed out from their wings but I still wouldn't suggest doing it. Rather than trying to change the boys have fun with the fact they will fly to you, from hand to hand, and so on. If you want a more placid mantis for hanging out in your room than that is what porky female mantises are for. There are also some species that are less gifted fliers than others and thus have males that are easier to keep track of.

On another note clipping a bird's wings is far from harmless. It can lead to a variety of health issues. It is just one of the many reasons most parrots in captivity live shorter lifespans than their wild counterparts.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I know nothing!

 

[Coneja]

Odd: I got this same question today during a field trip after I was talking about how surprised/freaked out I was by my male's first flight. I came to about the same conclusion so it is interesting to see the discussion was occurring here at about the same time...

 

[Ntsees]

I dislike cutting a mantids wing because I like their wing patterns. If I do not want my male to fly away, I simply use a string to tie it around his body and wings between the 2nd and 3rd legs. The tied string is loose so it can slide back and forth, but at the same time, it cannot slide off unless forced to. If the mantid tries to fly away, he won't be able to open his wings.

 

[patrickfraser]

I know nothing!

It must be know nothing day. :lol: Second thread, same response. Why say anything?

 

[Rick]

The difference between clipping a bird's wings and a mantis is that a mantis has hemolymph (bug blood) throughout the veins from body to tip of wings. Birds do not. You risk causing the mantis to "bleed out" if clipped.

Bugs don't feel pain, so you would only end up killing it.

That is incorrect. Once the wings are dry you can cut them all you want. It is the same as cutting a persons hair. If you want to prevent a mantis from flying cut his wings off. It won't hurt him but he will look stupid. Just don't cut to close to where they attach to the body because there is living tissue at that point. Cut them off starting an inch or two away from the body on a large mantis.

 

[hibiscusmile]

thanks Rick, that's what I thought, but I had no proof of it, I have done it many times but never paid any attention on whether the mantis lived or died afterwards. whew, that was a close one!

 

[dgerndt]

I actually like that my boys enjoy some flight time. It's fun to see where they want to go. And I've gotten pretty good at catching them mid-air. I just don't take them outside, because they would be gone for sure!

 

[Rick]

Well I don't think it is the best thing to do, but it isn't harmful to do so.

 

[BugLover]

Ok thanks! I won't do it then

 

[patrickfraser]

You learn something new every day. Clip away.

 

[thalassarche]

I stand corrected, and grateful for the new information!