Occasional shivers

[TrenMT]

Does anyone's mantis ever shiver for a second or so as if she's got the heeby jeebies or had an icecube on their back?

I'm not concerned mine is dying as she's been doing it since I got her I just wanted to know if it was normal behaviour.

 

[MantisGirl13]

@TrenMT Can you post a pic and give us more details?

- MantisGirl13

 

[Synapze]

I've seen this behavior many times in health mantids. I don't believe it's anything to worry about. ?

 

[Sticky]

Some do it when they are scared of something.

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

Mine has done it a couple times too I think... It is strange.

 

[Mantis Lady]

I have seen mine doing it too. It looks if they are cold when they do it?

 

[minomantis]

I've definitely seen this behavior many times in all my mantids.  I've just classified it as a mantis thing. lol  I'm curious as to why they do it.  It might be like a defense behavior.  Like if they notice something is near, but not a real cause for display, a quick shiver can catch you off guard and possibly make you startled and back away.  I guess it would only startle if their striking arms could make a sound.  I don't know.  A bit of a stretch I know, but it's a thought. 

I'm just thinking about my mantis and I notice this during dusk or when it gets darker in the room.  I put her on my pothos plant and if I walk by the plant while she's on it, she will flutter her wings and it honestly startles me because I'm not expecting it.  So I just figured the rattling may ward off possible animals that are just in the way?  I don't know. lol

 

[Ellithain]

The sudden swaying shiver they do? I thought I heard somewhere that they did this because they see a big predator (You) and are trying to mimick the swaying of leaves/branches to blend in better. Sorta like how stick insects walk. No idea if that's actually correct, I mean my enclosures have nothing close to wind blowing through them. 

 

[Krissim Klaw]

There are several different behaviors I could see someone classifying as a shive that are perfectly normal. If you are talking about when their body seems to shudder but they don't otherwise flatten out or move into a stressed out posture, I tend to consider that their version of a wake up stretch where they are likely warming up their body/refreshing the fluid in their limbs after a long period of inactivity (mantis version of sleep).

 

[Mantis Lady]

I tend to consider that their version of a wake up stretch where they are likely warming up their body/refreshing the fluid in their limbs after a long period of inactivity (mantis version of sleep).

Intresting theory. Maybe it is indeed like waking up. Thought I have read insects sleep too, but different than we do.

 

[kwright]

I saw my mantis did this throughout the day after he molted. And the day before he molted his whole head would spasm on occasion. Mandibles, antenna, and the head itself.