Not expanding wings?

[agent A]

My orchid molted to adult an hour ago and still didnt start spreading her wings

Is this normal for them??

 

[giesle]

Yep. I had one the other day that molted to adult and it took at the very least a few hours. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't expand. That way it would be easier for the male to mate her later on.

 

[lancaster1313]

My orchid female expanded her wings immediately after the molt like all the other species that I have had.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Well, I know that:

• After molting, Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches (Hissers) puff themselves up with air so that they get larger before their exoskeleton hardens.
• Butterflies take a while to flex their wings and pump hemolymph into them before taking flight.

So maybe your mantis is just drying off, still?

 

[agent A]

She expanded them perfectly overnight

 

[hibiscusmile]

I find a mantis with bad wings (females) rarely ever get mated, esp the orchids.

 

[agent A]

I find a mantis with bad wings (females) rarely ever get mated, esp the orchids.

Her wings r perfect now

 

[hibiscusmile]

good!

 

[lancaster1313]

That is strange but very interesting, not to mention Good News.

 

[Ranitomeya]

An unexpanded orchid would have a difficult time getting mated. A male's enthusiastic tapping--if he does not get confused by the lack of tactile stimuli--on her exposed abdomen may be construed as an attack on the female's most vulnerable area. Mantids from a more humid environment may have the ability to take longer to fully expand their wings without risk of drying too quickly, so it might just be normal that it took her longer to expand.