"Drunk" Idolo

[Hellemose]

Hey

i just noticed some odd behavior from one of my Idolo nymphs, i suspect it to be 2-3 molts from maturity, it acts like it is drunk, not just the normal "wobble" behavior, most of them do, but it hangs from the top and "reaches out" for the bottom, despite being 3-4 times its own lenght above the bottom, and it seems to have some "slobby" movement, as if it where drunk, anyone noticed this before?

its been fed on flies and wax moths.

 

[dmina]

Can you get a video of the activity? I have never witnessed that behavior with my Orchids... but what I am imagining may be completely different..

 

[Hellemose]

Sure ill try see if i can catch it on vid tomorrow

 

[Danny.]

Mine only "reach out" when they are about to molt.

 

[CosbyArt]

Mine only "reach out" when they are about to molt.

Ha, yeah the superman pose. I agree, it seems it helps them break free of their old exoskeleton getting them started on molting.

 

[MantisMatt14]

I've noticed this crazy behavior too! They teach out at night and start to shake violently like they are having a serious fat seizure. Then they stop after a few seconds. This behavior sounds like a neurological problem within inbreeding of the species perhaps.

 

[Hellemose]

Well seems like it was just time to molt....nice big molt and even bigger Idolo this morning, acts normal now, still dont get why its so far ahead of the other Idolo i got, they both where F2 when i got them, but theres atleast 3 molts between them now, they get fed the same things, kept the same way, only difference is that 1 has eaten a mealworm (only 1) the other one hasnt.

 

[CosbyArt]

Well seems like it was just time to molt....nice big molt and even bigger Idolo this morning, acts normal now, still dont get why its so far ahead of the other Idolo i got, they both where F2 when i got them, but theres atleast 3 molts between them now, they get fed the same things, kept the same way, only difference is that 1 has eaten a mealworm (only 1) the other one hasnt.

Glad your Idolo is back to normal.

I've had several mantids in different species grow faster than their siblings too. Like humans or any animal - some hit growth spurts.

 

[Hellemose]

sorry for the quality, only got my phone to take pictures with at the moment, but hope it shows the size difference anyway

 

[Mantis Man13]

Lol your other mantis is so tiny comparison! :clown:

 

[Hellemose]

yeah it is, they where both 2nd instar/F2 when i got them, kept the exact same way