Deroplatys Lobata drying wings, help

mutrok4040 · Aug 21, 2012

So my adult male D. Lobata was drying his wings, the portion of the stick he was on was too low. The end of his wings are curved in towards the abdomen, however I was lucky enough to catch him in the earlier stages. His wings are still very soft, do you think he has a chance to dry them properly still? I have set him up on a stick in the corner of my room, so he has plenty of drying space, quick replies appreciated.

agent A · Aug 21, 2012

u could probably manually straighten them with 2 toothpicks or a finger/thumb thingy

happy1892 · Aug 21, 2012

Mantids are like that and after a little bit the wings get normal but sometimes they do not and then you have mismolted wings or whatever.

mutrok4040 · Aug 21, 2012

The wings were pushed up against the ground, thats why they were that way. I will try to straighten them with tweezers. Thanks guys!

happy1892 · Aug 21, 2012

mutrok4040 said:
The wings were pushed up against the ground, thats why they were that way. I will try to straighten them with tweezers. Thanks guys!

Be very careful. I would not do it because I have killed many cicadas messing with their wings. Before they dry their wings there is a lot of blood going through it and if the wing is cut they die.