Odd behavior from Peruvian mantis *Pic*

[Rick]

These little guys are really something. They are quick to stretch out and attempt to hide from you or strike up a threat posture. Today I had this female out and she flipped backwards and landed on the floor on her back. She was completely still and looked dead. Got her to do it again and she landed on the plant like this and stayed that way for about thirty seconds.

 

[Tapos]

i found a small light brown male mantis outside my work last summer, he had pointy eyes, and is not like any i have seen. but when i took him home, he escaped and tried to run, not fly, and he did the same thing. he played dead, on his back. he even let me pick him up? he did it several times. my kids named him "wild thing". i let him go in the area i found him, hoping to find ooth or offspring.

 

[Christian]

Hi.

This kind of playing dead when threatened is called Thanatosis.

Regards,

Christian