Okay, so I get up like 3am something to get a drink and as usual check on my babies. For some odd reason the male Giant Asian seems to be in a crappy mood ( maybe my fault,3am and all)and goes on the defense. Normally he either reaches up or is at least approachable. Anyway, he assumes the position not with his arms out to the sides but just low and head to the side he watches and adjusts himself to my every move. Then all of a sudden this stream of liquid shoots out of his butt and just misses me. Now I have seen them do this butt squirt thing in the past when they had maybe overeating to let out excess fluid. Happenstance:????? :blink:
Mantis defense mechanism?????
- Thread starter sk8erkho
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Birdfly
Well-known member
Shes just defecating, fireing it away from her ambush position may protect her from being discovered by a predator 
macro junkie
Dead Leaf Mantis
this happens to me all the time when i get them out to take pics..if im upset them they fire it at me..lol
idolomantis
Well-known member
lol better a mantis than a scorpion :lol:
Krissim Klaw
Well-known member
I've never had a mantis specifically fire it's waste at me in such a manner, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were some kind of defensive mechanism. A face full of mantis goop would be enough to dissuade me from going after a mantis at least. :blink:
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Mantida
Well-known member
My P. ocellata male fired some liquid onto my arm once.
I think it's just some discharge, and may be a minor defensive mechanism. :blink:
I think it's just some discharge, and may be a minor defensive mechanism. :blink:
Bumping a very old thread. Also here: http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=19086&hl=squirt&fromsearch=1
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So, I had my L6 female Chinese out and was playing with her, letting her walk up my arm and then switching to the other hand so she can walk up that arm, repeat, etc. She was tracking me intently with her eyes and coming right for me. It didn't look particularly hostile or aggressive, just kind of a curious walk. I had just transferred her to the other arm and held her up under a light. Her butt twitched a bit and I swear I saw a glistening droplet(s?) fly out towards me to the right of my face.
Did she just squirt something out of her butt at me‽‽‽‽‽‽ I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure I saw that.
(If it happened) I think I'd consider it a purposeful act but I'd expect it to be right on target and nail me in the face or eyes. I'd really prefer not to get hit anywhere with whatever that ###### is. How common is this? Could it be the diet? Should I always be wearing glasses when handling her like this? Any tips or horror stories?
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So, I had my L6 female Chinese out and was playing with her, letting her walk up my arm and then switching to the other hand so she can walk up that arm, repeat, etc. She was tracking me intently with her eyes and coming right for me. It didn't look particularly hostile or aggressive, just kind of a curious walk. I had just transferred her to the other arm and held her up under a light. Her butt twitched a bit and I swear I saw a glistening droplet(s?) fly out towards me to the right of my face.
Did she just squirt something out of her butt at me‽‽‽‽‽‽ I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure I saw that.
(If it happened) I think I'd consider it a purposeful act but I'd expect it to be right on target and nail me in the face or eyes. I'd really prefer not to get hit anywhere with whatever that ###### is. How common is this? Could it be the diet? Should I always be wearing glasses when handling her like this? Any tips or horror stories?
lancaster1313
Likebugs (site changed my name😐)
I can't be certain that it is or isn't a defense, for at least some species. I haven't kept many different species.
When I handled my mantids regularly, they seemed to only do the squirt when they were out of the container and there were never any dirty sides or lids. My latest H.multispina females have not been handled much and there is evidence of squirting on the sides and lids of the containers.
With the mantids that I have had, I assume that they just had to go, because it just happens whenever. It seems more so when they are active.
When I handled my mantids regularly, they seemed to only do the squirt when they were out of the container and there were never any dirty sides or lids. My latest H.multispina females have not been handled much and there is evidence of squirting on the sides and lids of the containers.
With the mantids that I have had, I assume that they just had to go, because it just happens whenever. It seems more so when they are active.
