Mark off ro the Left!

[PhilinYuma]

Some people, like me, "observe" their mantids, others, like Mija, "Observe" their mantids. We both have ghost nymphs molting or molted into second instar, and I was entertained yesterday, to a molt count, as we were on line, "three more in the past half hour!" I usually only notice the cast skins. Then she told me, "they all have their horns tilted to the left,"and I had visions of a platoon of ghost mantids marking off to the left.

But no, she claimed that in whatever position they were, the horns tilted slightly to the left. I said that I would check today to see if mine were tilted too, perhaps to the right since we are on opposite sides of the equator, and forgot about it until just now when I was feeding them.

All the horns are tilted slightly to the left! This has to be one of the "smallest" observations ever made on this Forum, but there must be a reason for it. Is this the case with yours, Katt? Well, then, go and have a look!

So, Wayne, you will need to keep that webcam running until your nymphs reach at least the second instar!

 

[[email protected]]

I have 6 L3 and ill check tomorrow i just put food in there and dont want any escapies.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I will lookie to

 

[jacksun]

Some people, like me, "observe" their mantids, others, like Mija, "Observe" their mantids. We both have ghost nymphs molting or molted into second instar, and I was entertained yesterday, to a molt count, as we were on line, "three more in the past half hour!" I usually only notice the cast skins. Then she told me, "they all have their horns tilted to the left,"and I had visions of a platoon of ghost mantids marking off to the left. But no, she claimed that in whatever position they were, the horns tilted slightly to the left. I said that I would check today to see if mine were tilted too, perhaps to the right since we are on opposite sides of the equator, and forgot about it until just now when I was feeding them.

All the horns are tilted slightly to the left! This has to be one of the "smallest" observations ever made on this Forum, but there must be a reason for it. Is this the case with yours, Katt? Well, then, go and have a look!

So, Wayne, you will need to keep that webcam running until your nymphs reach at least the second instar!

At least 2nd, maybe 3rd or 4th.....

 

[Katnapper]

I'm going to have to look after a few hours of sleep... can't even read the rest of the posts! Went as a chaperone on a field trip today for a group of 4th grade boys... including my son. They wore me down and out. Need rest. Can't keep eyes open or focused to look for little left tilting horns. WHY didn't I take my earplugs for the hour bus ride there, and then back?!!! :blink:

Will have to get back to you....

 

[superfreak]

bump!

 

[PhilinYuma]

bump!

While we're waiting for Emile and Katt to go and look at their ghosts (it's only been a couple of days!) here is a description from the same source, that might shed some light on this Deviation to the Left:

Mija: unlike in other mantids, where the skin splits on the prothorax,

they begin their molt through their face

it splits up the middle of the horn to the tip but stays closed at the tip

and the new horn pushing on the old causes it to distort, until the old skin fianally splits.

Pretty good observation, huh? It might be that a slight deviation of the "horn" in either direction makes the it easier for it to split the old skin open by providing greater leverage.

 

[PhilinYuma]

bump!

While we're waiting for Emile and Katt to go and look at their ghosts (it's only been a couple of days!) here is a description from the same source, that might shed some light on this Deviation to the Left:

Mija: unlike in other mantids, where the skin splits on the prothorax,

they begin their molt through their face

it splits up the middle of the horn to the tip but stays closed at the tip

and the new horn pushing on the old causes it to distort, until the old skin fianally splits.

Pretty good observation, huh? It might be that a slight deviation of the head in either direction makes the it easier for the "horn" to split the old skin open.

 

[[email protected]]

They all seem to go to the left. but i did just do that at 5:50 in the morning so i am not 100% sure.

 

[Katnapper]

OK.... I've finally had a good look, and although I was skeptical... yes, the tips of their horns point to their left. I didn't remove and check each one. But I took out, and looked at up close, three... and then just observed the others in their enclosure. Hmmm.... interesting!

 

[bassist]

My ghost's horns also point to the left.

 

[superfreak]

craaazy!

 

[kamakiri]

Of course, they're one way. Do you think there are right and left-faced flounders?

Same probably goes for the male genital and subgenital parts which are asymmetrical.

Yes, my L3s all point left, including the ones that are forward and left.

Oh yeah, and use the search function :lol:

 

[PhilinYuma]

Of course, they're one way. Do you think there are right and left-faced flounders? Same probably goes for the male genital and subgenital parts which are asymmetrical.

Yes, my L3s all point left, including the ones that are forward and left.

Oh yeah, and use the search function :lol:

Kamakari: You've been watching too many flying bunnies!

 

[The_Asa]

This was useful, thank you =P

 

[superfreak]

use the search function for what?

 

[kamakiri]

use the search function for what?

Olga, it was a joke tied to other threads...mostly for Phil's benefit...and the humor is lost if I explain. I also have a tendency to bore people when I explain. Much like I am doing right now.

And Phil, I only watch one flying bunny, but perhaps I do Observe him too much... :lol:

 

[superfreak]

oh... :huh: ok!

 

[PhilinYuma]

oh... :huh: ok!

We don't want to unconfuse you that easily, though, Superf!reak! I am Reliably Informed (with Diagrams) that the skewing of the ghost's horn has nothing whatsoever to do with molting. I am further informed that predators of the mantis tend to use its head as a recognition point (I think that I saw that in Prete's book, too, somewhere) and that the tilt to the left makes the head look more like the slightly bent tip of a leaf. Why only to the left? I think that Kamakiris flounders have the answer. At some point, a minor genetic mutation created a strain of ghosts with the horn slightly skewed in one direction, making them more cryptic than their "normal" bretheren, and the mutated strain was more successful at avoiding predation and won out.

Or it could be some kind of political statement.