Defecating as a defense mechanism?

[joossa]

Hi everyone. I was out in the hills by my home today looking for herps and insects. I usually don’t see anything older than L2 nymphs this time of year, but I got lucky and found an L4 I. oratoria (the most common species in my area, and the only species I currently keep). As I slowly walked toward him, I began to stretch out my arm to grab him. I got close enough to grab him, but missed. He jumped to the ground and started to hop away.

I finally got him, but right after I grasped him he pooped on my hand. Now, I know frogs and other insects do this, but I have never seen a mantid do it before. Did he use his poo as a defense mechanism or do you guys think he just had to go? Have any of your mantids done this before?

Thanks.

 

[Asa]

My mantids have never 'defecated' in my hand. Yet anyway. I suppose it's possible

 

[swoosh]

I think he is nervous.

 

[OGIGA]

I say it's coincidence.

 

[pizzuti]

Some insects do that, so either that's what the mantid was doing, or else it was so excited by being caught that everything came out before it would have.

 

[Sparky]

Some insects do that, so either that's what the mantid was doing, or else it was so excited by being caught that everything came out before it would have.

Yea, don't worry joossa. This happens with my little brother all the time.

 

[Orin]

Did he use his poo as a defense mechanism or do you guys think he just had to go? Thanks.

I've never seen a mantis do that but I'm sure he didn't think about how his poo could be used to get you away. You just found a really nervous mantis.

 

[colddigger]

if a giant beast grab me i might shi*t myself too

 

[TranCE_Productions_Inc]

Hi everyone. I was out in the hills by my home today looking for herps and insects. I usually don’t see anything older than L2 nymphs this time of year, but I got lucky and found an L4 I. oratoria (the most common species in my area, and the only species I currently keep). As I slowly walked toward him, I began to stretch out my arm to grab him. I got close enough to grab him, but missed. He jumped to the ground and started to hop away. I finally got him, but right after I grasped him he pooped on my hand. Now, I know frogs and other insects do this, but I have never seen a mantid do it before. Did he use his poo as a defense mechanism or do you guys think he just had to go? Have any of your mantids done this before?

Thanks.

Maybe you scared the living sh*t out of it? You scared it sh*tless. It got so scared it sh*t in it's pants? Your hands were the pants. Lol j/k