Idolomantis molting behavior

[guapoalto049]

I'm watching one L3 Idolo molt to L4 right now. I noticed in the 10 minutes or so prior to ecdysis it kept abruptly swaying side to side, but the arms were in a typical mantis molting position.

I've never seen a mantid so dynamic as it was about to molt. Could this be the root of the problem for the species? All others I've seen just sit still, with a few small wiggles.

Anyone else ever pick up on this? Maybe as they get heavier, the exuvia (old skin) is too weak to stay hooked with all that rocking?

 

[Seattle79]

My limbatas violently swing back and forth and sometimes up and down before molting. This behavior seems normal and similar with other Mantid species.

-Kevin

 

[hibiscusmile]

Must be how they put theirselves in a trance.... I know if I was going to slither out of my old skin, I would need a trance too :tt2: