messed up wings

Emile.Wilson · May 3, 2009

well my poccelata female molted to adult last night i think, and i awoke to see her on the ground, at first i thought she was dead but i touched the skin and it practically fell off, but once she got up her wings were all crumpled, not sure what to do but i am afraid male might have difficulty mating with her.

Katnapper · May 4, 2009

It shouldn't affect their abiltity to mate. If you try it and see it's causing problems, you can always trim the offending wing if it's getting in the way. I don't see why it would though.

I'm still amazed at the way the wings unfold... how they can be so crumpled up and compressed, and then lengthen and straighten out (when everything goes right, of course!).

jameslongo · May 4, 2009

Nice mantis. Shame about the wing though. I don't think it will pose a problem in any aspect of adulthood. If her hind legs can hold her abdominal weight off the ground & her raptorial arms function as per usual, she can fend for herself.

Rick · May 4, 2009

She will be fine or you can wait a week for it to fully dry and trim it off. I would only trim the right side though and stop when you get a half inch from the point of attachment. I only do that if it is really in the way or they act like it bothers them.

jameslongo · May 4, 2009

Rick said:
She will be fine or you can wait a week for it to fully dry and trim it off. I would only trim the right side though and stop when you get a half inch from the point of attachment. I only do that if it is really in the way or they act like it bothers them.

Does trimming run any risks? I'm guessing no since we've had a couple of suggestions like that. But still, they have veins in there!