Limbata acting strange

J.mena · Oct 10, 2017

So I've had a wild caught Stagmomantis limbata for about a month or so. The mantis that got me in to mantids. About a week and a half ago I bred her with some wild caught males.

Today I was doing everyone's feedings. Then I noticed that she was walking around like she was drunk. Everytime she tried climbing up the glass she falls backwards. Then struggles to flip back over.

My question is what could be wrong with her? Isn't it a little too early in the season for them to die off? I have no idea how old, but she was an adult when I got her. She hasn't layed any ooths. She did eat a fly today, but is the symptoms a sign of her dying? Anything I can do?

Connor · Oct 10, 2017

Depends on how old she is really... she could be dying of old age. She could be dying from being egg bound. Perhaps she is getting ready to lay an ooth. Does it look like her abdomen is full? Although a ooth laying mantis usually doesn't act like that. Just kinda hangs in one spot pumping her abdomen.

Nanodot · Oct 11, 2017

Does she have enough water?

J.mena · Oct 11, 2017

I just figured since she is native that her life cycle would be the same as all the others in the area. Which I thought they died around December. Maybe she is egg bound. Don't really know if I can do anything about that.

She is hanging from the screen now and looks normal, but that was really strange.

I spray her a few times a week. So I think she has enough water