So I got up this morning, fed and misted the nymphs and left for work. About half an hour ago my girlfriend called and said that my Flower Nymph was lying on the bottom of her enclosure and was not looking like she was moving. I am hoping that she is just playing dead and is waiting for an unsuspecting bug or person to walk by so she can scare them. I have read that some other species have been known to do this. I just received them yesterday and I think I have been taking pretty good care of them, but I am wondering if the stress of the move sometimes overwhelms a mantis? The only thing that I can think of was I left them outside for about half an hour so that they could get some nice sun. It was a nice morning (about 80 degrees) and they were back inside before it started to heat up. Any advice?
Flower Nymph Playing Dead
- Thread starter dr walkrr
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hopefully not tho
yeah, just got home, definitely no longer with us. Is this something that is just part of raising insects? I feel sorry for the little bugger but maybe when you hatch along with your 50 brothers and sisters not everyone is going to make it.
RIP Flower Mantis, I never even learned your name.
5/6/10-5/7/10
RIP Flower Mantis, I never even learned your name.
5/6/10-5/7/10
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Well, Arie, you are just about right on every count. I don't know what part of AZ you live in, but in the SW of the state, it was 94F, yesterday and probably higher in the delivery van; very stressful. I would suggest that unless you live somewhere like Flag, you rent a P.O. box for the summer. That way you can pick up your package that usually arrives on the afternoon before it is put out for delivery, and it is saved a very hot day in the truck.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Well I luckily the good people at mantisplace use express delivery so the package was over-nighted and delivered about 10 am. That is why I was so surprised because she seemed fine yesterday, ate a bunch of FF's and seemed ok in the morning. Oh well, live and let live.
You would be surprised how hot just a few minutes closed in something will heat up. The cup propably was 100 degrees inside in no time, I am 99% sure of that, We must remember that most of our mantis never see the sun light, and usually those that are put near a window for a few minutes of sun, usually end up dead, even plants that are inside and took outside for a brief bit of air and never exposed to the sun, end up with sunburn and a lot will die.
Yes indeed!! Gotta watch changes in temp especially dramatic increases or even decreases!!! I live in an apartment and i usually let my babies hangout on the screen on my windows. Well, last winter I left them on the window during the day and forgot that around 6pm the temp usually drops. I was tending to their enclosures when I heard something hit the windowsill. When I turned around I found one of my Widearms legs up on the sill. She was not moving so I picked her up carefully. Her little body was cold as ice. So, immediately I cupped her in my hands and just blew into my hand to warm her. All of a sudden she jumped up all wide eyed and alert as if nothing happened!!! I was so happy that she did not die just yet!!! I guess she was like what happens to the ffs when we put them in the freezer momentarily!!! Anyway, point is you have to be careful with temp changes!!! Then there is still the chance that you will not ever know exactly what happened to it as well! Good luck with the rest of your babies!!!
