do mantids urinate?

[joel]

my giant indian mantis has twice sprayed some form of liquid from his bottom end

(sorry not sure of its name)

i figured this could be urine as its where he excretes from too,

but cant find any info on it so wondered if anyone knew?

could it be some kind of self defence maybe?

as it has been whilst he is handled

thanks in advance

joel

 

[macro junkie]

im not sure if they urinate but i know the spray your talking about is a form of defence.

 

[The_Asa]

Your question was put poetically

Some mantids use this spray as a form of defence.

 

[hibiscusmile]

:blink: Thank God I have not encountered it!

 

[idolomantis]

:blink: Thank God I have not encountered it!

i guess we are the people who stick on just getting bitten or something, no weird pray stink water thingy for me :blink:

 

[OGIGA]

I only had this happen to me once.

 

[Christian]

I never encountered this as a defensive mechanism. In fact, it happens often when mantids are well-fed, regardless of people witnessing it or not. It is not quite clear what is is for, as insects usually excrete ureatic acid, which is solid and whitish and a part of the faeces. However, well-fed mantids often spit a drop of a yellowish liquid from their anus. As they don't need to excrete this way, we supposed it is to eliminate rather surplus water than nitrogen. That's why starved mantids or moderately fed ones never do it. It may be possible that overfed mantids try to extract the nutrients from the prey but have to get rid of surplus water and/or urea nitrogen. In the latter case it would be interesting to know if it's ureatic acid or urea. Ureatic acid is not soluble in water, urea is. However, the yellowish liquid seems to be more an emulsion than a solution, so probably it contains ureatic acid.

In any case, if you encounter this too often, better feed the mantids less.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Christian, thanks for the info, I have not noticed it, but I do feed mine almost everyday, is there something to look for which would tell me it is happening even when I don't Notice it?

 

[Christian]

Well, how often do you have to clean the windows of the terraria? :lol:

 

[The_Asa]

However, well-fed mantids often spit a drop of a yellowish liquid from their anus.

I thought we were talking about the spray? :huh:

 

[Pelle]

I've also seen it once by my H.coronatus female, she fired it approximately 20 cm far away

 

[Christian]

It's not a spray, it's several small droplets.

 

[The_Asa]

It's not a spray, it's several small droplets.

I've never seen what you're talking about...My chinese and marbled spray...

 

[MANTIS DUDE]

Well crickets and things will poop or somthing in your hand, so why not mantids? When ever i pick up a wild grasshoper/cricket it always lets out this brown liquid in my hand, lol!

 

[idolomantis]

Well crickets and things will poop or somthing in your hand, so why not mantids? When ever i pick up a wild grasshoper/cricket it always lets out this brown liquid in my hand, lol!

yea grasshoppers spit something...

 

[Christian]

Crickets and grasshoppers (and also mantids) regurgitate as a defense mechanism. The stuff we are talking about pops out the other hole... :lol:

 

[Kashmir79]

what a lovely conversation hahaha Urine and poo :lol:

 

[idolomantis]

what a lovely conversation hahaha Urine and poo :lol:

well it is atleat not human :blink:

 

[Borya]

After drying, it looks like white powder. I never saw mantids doing this for defence.