No you can't have my babies!

[hibiscusmile]

One of the ant mantis (Odontomantis) layed an ooth and now she will not get off of it. I noticed her trying to squeeze in between the lid and the ooth and picked it up to see what she was doing, She actually laid across it as if to hide it from me. I put in a couple of flies to see if she would give up and eat, but she kept one hand on the ooth and the other caught the fly. Both her arms were outstretched. She did not eat the fly or pull it to her, just held it at bay! Makes ya kinda sad somehow

 

[Xenomantis]

Wow! That's strange...

I have heard of some African species that stay and protect their Ooths rather than moving on like most others. Could this be the same sort of behavior? :huh:

 

[MikhailsDinos]

AWW~

Now how can people say they are bugs without a heart? Rebecca, I love the pictures! Keep us updated on the progress of the ootheca.

 

[OGIGA]

Will she move if you touch her butt?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Aactually yes, she hugs it with both hands!

 

[yen_saw]

Will she move if you touch her butt?

No, she will sue you for sexual harrassment

I have seen few wild mantis "guarding" the ootheca before but i am sure the mantis will leave long before the ooth hatch, so don't think any female mantis will actually protect the ooth the entire period. However, i have seen many times - especially this species - where female mantis deposited the ootheca close to where she laid previously. So as Pseudoharpax Virescens.

 

[OGIGA]

If she's there when they hatch, I bet she'd eat them.