Does my Ghost hate me?

[TheSamuraiCop]

It's totally fine if he does. I'm just trying to figure out the signs of stress in a mantis. I've had mine for a few weeks, and about a week ago, there was a little accident. Basically, sometimes i have to interact with him while misting due to having a mason jar/burlap setup, and he likes to hang near the top. Meaning, anytime I unscrew I get a little friend saying hi.

This is usually fine. He just kind of crawls around my hand, I've given him honey once (Is this okay? I've heard conflicting things), etc. This time, though, he was getting a little lively and fell from my hand.

I was shocked... it seems like he's so agile until he's not. I rescued him, and he looked pissed but fine. No injuries that I can see, walks fine.

However, ever since then he's pretty hesitant by my presence. I've interacted with him a few times, but he's clearly not very into me lol. I figure I should just leave him alone from now on. I just see all these photos of people interacting with their Ghosts, and mine sort of tenses up or walks away. I mean, if he wants to be left alone, that is obviously fine. He can be my shy one, and maybe another mantis in the future can be my lively one.

He eats like a pig, and looks generally healthy (I think we are close to a molt). The only other thing I can think of, is that he is kept in our living room, where there is a decent amount of movement. Is that stressful for him?

Based on everything I've said: What do you think? Are Ghosts just more aloof than other species, or did that incident really harm him from interacting with me?

 

[ohaple]

Yes, he hates you.

.

.

.

Just kidding. I noticed that our ghost females go through moods. Sometimes they will stay high in their enclosure and climb onto me, other times I can barely get them to step onto a stick for feeding out of their enclosure. They just lock down and pretend to be a leaf. Then a few weeks later, they will change mood again. Don't sweat it, just keep making sure you are meeting their needs like food and humidity.

Regarding honey, I don't have a solid answer. We have fed bee pollen/honey dried mix a few times and they seem to like it, but I can't confirm whether it is helpful. I am highly skeptical of the claims that treat honey like mantis medicine.

 

[Graceface]

Totally hates you! Lol

I know the feeling, Ghosts can be moody and aloof to my presence at times. Others, they seem to want to be my best friend and refuse to leave me alone. Go figure. 

Give him space and I'm sure he will come around

As to honey, I've read claims it is bad for mantids. I've also seen it help sick or feeble mantids. I have bee pollen/honey powder which I give to my female orchids as a treat (and they quite enjoy it), and if a mantis is ailing I've given raw honey and water mixed together. I don't offer it on a regular basis to all mantids

 

[Synapze]

It's not your Ghost... it's you.  Just kidding.

Seriously, mantids don't think, they simply behave instinctively. For example, when a Ghost sways, it's not dancing to the beat for our amusement; it's simply trying to conceal itself as a dead leaf in the breeze. Ghosts can also feign death and simply drop to the ground... like a dead leaf. We have to remember that insects don't desire to be handled, they're completely incapable of feeling desire, but some seem to tolerate it better than others. I've found that some eventually become less skittish and don't seem to feel threatened or stressed, but many never do. If it seems stressed by handling, put it away and try again another day. It may become more "friendly" with more handling. If a mantis begins giving you a threat display, it's time to leave it alone for a while. It's telling you to go away.

Some of my mantids are in high traffic areas of my home, but they never appear stressed. I only have a couple that even bother trying to hide. 

We tend to anthropomorphize our arthropod friends and begin attributing their behaviors to emotions... of which they have none. Your Ghost is simply being an insect. That doesn't keep us from enjoying interactions or even feeling affection. 

As far as honey, some swear by it, but the jury is out on whether sugars are of any benefit to arthropods. If you do use honey, make sure to dilute it with water. Undiluted honey can be too viscous for the mouth parts and possibly even "gunk" up and interfere with the digestive system. 

That's my 2¢. 

 

[hysteresis]

I have it from a long-time mantis keeper that its cool to gut load your flies with honey water.

 

[Predatorhousepet]

While insects do not feel emotions like humans do and we definitely tend to anthropomorphize their actions mantises are very intelligent for insects. Mine are able to distinguish between me and a new person and will flatten themselves out against my hand to "hide" if they think the new person may be a threat. I don't think a mantis would be able to hold a long-term grudge over being dropped, however. You can continue handling your ghost.

As for honey, I only give diluted honey to mantises that need a bit of a pick me up such as if they are sick or sluggish from shipping but it's definitely not medicine. The sugar is just a quick energy boost that helps them get back on their feet. I don't give it to them regularly or even as a treat. (Adding in a bit of bee pollen to the mix is beneficial as it is packed with vitamins.)

However, I do add finely ground bee pollen (I ran it through a powerful coffee grinder several times) to a deli cup and coat fruit flies with it. It weighs them down and makes it so the sides of the cup are hard to climb so the FF can't get out of the cup while feeding them to my nymphs, I don't even need a lid anymore. It's a trick I picked up from the dendroboard forum but they coat the fruit flies with calcium/D3 powder, something mantises don't need since they don't have bones. I tried several different things as substitutes (dry fruit fly media also works decently) before settling on bee pollen powder since pollen is something they would ingest in the wild (honey bees, moths and butterflies are all prey that are also pollinators.) At first I was mixing half bee pollen, half honey powder as the FF coating mix but discovered the honey powder wasn't necessary and I didn't want to give them sugar with every meal if they didn't need it.

And yes as mentioned, many do give honey water to flies to keep them alive until mantis feeding time.

 

[Synapze]

Mine are able to distinguish between me and a new person and will flatten themselves out against my hand to "hide" if they think the new person may be a threat. 

When I try to show my Rhombodera to someone he'll scurry to the opposite side of my hand and flattened down. If I turn my hand he repeats the action. As soon as the other person is out of sight he relaxes, stands erect and acts normally. Such behavior baffles me. 

A friend caught me talking to one of my mantids one day and thought I was nuts. I do it mostly to amuse myself, but there are times when it almost seems to calm them... or maybe I am just nuts.

 

[MantisGirl13]

A friend caught me talking to one of my mantids one day and thought I was nuts. I do it mostly to amuse myself, but there are times when it almost seems to calm them... or maybe I am just nuts.

Well if you're nuts for talking to your mantids, then so am I! 

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

A friend caught me talking to one of my mantids one day and thought I was nuts. I do it mostly to amuse myself, but there are times when it almost seems to calm them... or maybe I am just nuts.

Same kid that was all "im a little mantis" last night has turned to me while im chattering to my flock. He says " Daddy, who are you talking to? "

Little sonofa know exactly what im doing.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Same kid that was all "im a little mantis" last night has turned to me while im chattering to my flock. He says " Daddy, who are you talking to? "

Little sonofa know exactly what im doing.

Lol :lol:

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

Well if you're nuts for talking to your mantids, then so am I! 

- MantisGirl13

Me too. I talk to them too. I talk to my dog and my mantids. Sometimes even to my feeders if they want to escape

 

[MantisGirl13]

Me too. I talk to them too. I talk to my dog and my mantids. Sometimes even to my feeders if they want to escape

Lol Ya, we're weird people. But we are proud of it!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

My father was at my place and I was letting a mantis walk on me, he didnt get it dat a little insect facinates me he really thinks i am weird and indeed I am proud of it

 

[hysteresis]

My parents and some coworkers think im crazy. I dont care.

 

[MantisGirl13]

I think all of my friends think I'm wierd. I mean, what teen dedicates her closet for breeding mantids? 

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

A very cool teen.

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

I think all of my friends think I'm wierd. I mean, what teen dedicates her closet for breeding mantids? 

- MantisGirl13

You should see my room. Arthropods are everywhere. 

Me too. I talk to them too. I talk to my dog and my mantids. Sometimes even to my feeders if they want to escape

I am repeatedly reprimanding roaches. 

 

[hysteresis]

I am repeatedly reprimanding roaches. 

OMG 

 

[MantisGirl13]

I am repeatedly reprimanding roaches. 

Lol :lol:  ok, ya, I've done it too! 

A very cool teen.

Glad someone thinks so!

- MantisGirl13