Odd Abdomen (parasite?)

[steeve]

So all has been going well up until this point; my mantis molted last week to an adult. Unfortunately I've noticed something resembling a curled black line inside his last segment since his molt. Today it looks like part of his last segment is now missing from the top. I have no idea if this is normal or not; googling mantis genitals didn't help. Is the black thing a parasite of some sort eating him or is he supposed to look like that?

He eats blue bottle flies and has had 1 or 2 superworms, no outdoor bugs of any kind. He hangs upside down and doesn't seem sluggish or losing his appetite.

 

[mantisfan101]

Hmm I would say to wait and see. If he gets sluggish I would say some action would be necessary.

 

[steeve]

Another shot of the area I managed to get...

 

[Connor]

That's really weird... definitely not normal for whole sections to be eaten away as far as I know. I would say to try and take that brown band out but that could just be a organ or vein in the mantis. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come around.

 

[steeve]

I've no idea if the top section is 'missing' or if the bottom is just extended out. Time will tell, maybe he's just letting his bits hang out? I've really no experience to go off of. Rather not touch anything there though. 

 

[Connor]

Yeah it may just be his man parts now that I'm looking a little closer. I wouldn't try and touch anything either.

 

[Rick]

Not sure what some of you are looking at or think you're looking at but nothing looks unusual here. 

Attached pictures are not mine.