Ghost Mantis limb damage

[Vivian]

Hi. I have 3 ghost mantis but am now down to 2. One of my males was slowly dying so I ended his suffering by freezing earlier today. What can cause them to loose their front grasping legs. The first I noticed was that one of his front legs lost the 2 firs segments. I have no idea what happened. Being dark brown I couldn't really tell if there was a color change or not. I thought he'd have a chance if he could catch his food with the remaining grasping arm but he seemed to show little interest even if I held a fly for him. Then the other grasping arm lost its first few segments. He had trouble getting around. He finally ate a little bit of a fly as I held it for him but he just grew weaker til I decided it was best to end his suffering.

Now tonight I was putting in some flies for the remaining 2 ghost. one female, one male (in separate enclosures). The flies are raised from larvae and are not from outdoors. Well I noticed the female lost the very short thin portion of her front leg. She is having trouble walking. She is watching the flies I put in and I'm hoping she is able to eat. The leg that lost the very first section seems slow moving. She is green and I think I can see a dark spot on the very tip of the leg. I just can't be sure. I can't see anything visually on her. Would I be able to see a fungal issue, mites, etc... and any idea of what can cause this loss of leg seqments. I'm afraid I'm going to have to euthanize her as well so she doesn't linger unable to eat. All my mantis are around 9 months old and they did grow rather fast. Could it just be near the end for them?

I appreciate any ideas / thoughts.

Vivian

 

[PhilinYuma]

I think that you have answered your own question, Vivian. At nine months old, your ghosts are dying of old age. You have done very well to keep them so long. Did you mate them?

 

[Rick]

They are old. People need to understand these are insects and have very short life spans.

 

[Katnapper]

I can accept the "old age" diagnosis. I'm curious about the loss of arm segments though, especially since it has affected both of them. I've never really noticed this in any of my mantids that have died of what I thought was old age. Hmmm....

 

[Vivian]

Thanks. this is my first time having mantis so I have no experience and wasn't really sure how long ghost live. I've heard everything from months to 2 years.

I can accept the age thing... sad but as said... they are insects and I was quite impressed they could live this long.

I just thought it strange they would loose part of their limbs especially their front grasping arms.

Yes... I did mate them and had one successful ooth which someone here purchased (I hope it hatched). The female did attempt to lay 2 others but they were very small. She'd start it then stop before completed. She is very fat right now and I thought maybe she would lay another but appears it won't happen.

Thanks again for the replies. I guess I did well on my first time raising these guys.

Vivian

 

[Rick]

I can accept the "old age" diagnosis. I'm curious about the loss of arm segments though, especially since it has affected both of them. I've never really noticed this in any of my mantids that have died of what I thought was old age. Hmmm....

I have seen many very old mantids loose the tips of their legs. It gets stiff and brittle and falls off.

 

[PhilinYuma]

I have seen many very old mantids loose the tips of their legs. It gets stiff and brittle and falls off.

Yeah. It happened to my elderly peacock female before she died. If you plan on pinning yr mantids, it's probably a good idea to freeze them before this happens. Never had the heart to do it myself, though! <_<

 

[Katnapper]

I have seen many very old mantids loose the tips of their legs. It gets stiff and brittle and falls off.

Yeah. It happened to my elderly peacock female before she died. If you plan on pinning yr mantids, it's probably a good idea to freeze them before this happens. Never had the heart to do it myself, though! <_<

Thank you both... That's my "one new thing" I've learned today! I've had mantids who apparently died of old age, but I'd never really looked or noticed their leg tips falling off. Will try to pay closer attention to future "oldies."