Deformed wings

[FitzWallace]

I had one of my mantises out to "play." Less than 2 hours later, she molted to adulthood, but her wings are severely deformed. Is it possible that moving around so close to her final moult messed with her wing development? Otherwise, she seems fine.

 

[idolomantis]

after the molt they need to pump up there wings. when disturbed they just stop doing that.

if its just one messy ball of wing it sure is possible.

 

[Rick]

If she molted after you touched her I would say it is unlikely that is the cause. However I firmly believe mantids should not be handled unless necessary.

 

[FitzWallace]

Whoops! Just didn't wait long enough. She did need to pump them up...I should have known, just panicked. She is fine & dandy now.

 

[The_Asa]

I was just about to say that I didn't think handling them beforehand would make a difference. It would be the circusmstances surrounding the actual molt that would determine the outcome.

 

[mantidsandgeckos]

Whoops! Just didn't wait long enough. She did need to pump them up...I should have known, just panicked. She is fine & dandy now.

Thats good to hear! :lol:

 

[collinchang635]

I've never seen my mantids 'pump' their wings. How do they do it? Why do they do it?

 

[Rick]

I've never seen my mantids 'pump' their wings. How do they do it? Why do they do it?

Referring to how the wings are filled with fluid and grow. They then harden.