H. Venosa feeding issue

[hierodula]

Hierodulas in general are voracious feeders, and my venosa was no different until earlier this week. She stopped eating food a few days prior to her molt about 12 hours ago, which I did not think much of, since she was well fed before she stopped eating. The issue now is she seems to have no interest in the Dubias I'm giving her, when before she was interested and would readily eat them. Now she just strikes at them and walks away. Anyone know why this might be happening? I've never had a problem with a mantis suddenly rejecting feeder insects. 

 

[GingerC]

My own Hierodula membranacea always refuses food and becomes very "picky" for a few days following a molt. This has happened every time, without fail, for as long as I've had her.

Usually, I just wait until the second day after a molt, and then present prey in a way so that she can't possibly miss. This means removing all tank decor and prodding the prey so it goes right in front of her. She molted to adulthood the other day, and wouldn't take a cup of mealworms, so I resorted to drowning a worm in honey and then giving it to her. She started eating the honey off it, tasted that it was a worm, and bit right into its backside!

 

[hierodula]

I've resorted to crushing the roaches head and tong feeding her for now, she has no fuss about that. Thanks for the idea though, ill try that too!