Mantis Steps on Her Own Foot

[Krissim Klaw]

I currently have a adult, female T. Sinensis who has a rather odd quirk of stepping on her own leg. On the right side, she will take her farthest back walking leg and when moving to take a step forward end up grabbing onto the leg directly in front of it. Basically she hooks her suction cup around the other leg and clings to it with her foot like she would try to cling to a twig. When she goes to take another step forward she then ends up having to struggle to free the front leg while her other leg persistently tries to clings on. She only does this on her right side, and only with the back two walking legs.

I've noticed this quirk since she was a little nymph. The first couple times I saw her do it, I thought it was a funny fluke, but since then I have noticed she does it on a regular basis. there don't seem to be any deformities in the legs themselves nor does her motion seem hindered on that side. I'm not worried considering it hasn't hampered her in the least in making it to adulthood, but was curious if anyone else has had a mantis with similar issue?

Poor girl must have two left feet.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Humm, dont know that I ever noticed that, she is just special

 

[Vlodek]

How long I've been keeping mantids I never noticed anything like that before. I'm wondering if at least few of her offspring will inherit their Mother's special gift.

 

[ismart]

I have seen this before, but only once in a blue. I have noticed this more with adult male chinese mantids.

 

[Katnapper]

Humm, dont know that I ever noticed that, she is just special

+1

That's interesting.