Orchid Mantis does Tai Chi (video)

[Precarious]

Subadult female Hymenopus coronatus does her interpretive dance routine. Sorry for the poor quality of this footage. Bad lighting through plastic, late at night.

Music is from a live performance by myself and artist Jesse Reno as our now defunct project UNCOMMON.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Very cool, but Good God man Feed that poor girl, Ha-ha.

 

[CoolMantid]

Does she see her reflection or another mantis? Maybe she sees her reflection in your camera lense

 

[twolfe]

Very cute. There are times when the music seems to be timed perfectly to her movements. So, did she molt after that?

My adult female is rather boring. She sits in the same spot all day long.

 

[lunarstorm]

Wild! I wonder what prompts this behavior?

 

[Precarious]

Very cool, but Good God man Feed that poor girl, Ha-ha.

This footage was taken shortly after she molted. She's nice and fat now.

Does she see her reflection or another mantis? Maybe she sees her reflection in your camera lense

I sometimes see them directing this toward another mantis in an adjacent cup but I also catch them doing it randomly. In the video she wasn't facing any other mantis but she began to direct it at me once I approached with the camera.

So, did she molt after that?

No, she's still sub. I'm hoping she molts before I got on my trip next month.

 

[patrickfraser]

Very pretty. Music is cool, too. Makes me want to disappear. Keep it coming. :clap:

 

[Idolofreak]

Cool and funny! :lol:

 

[RevWillie]

I love the abdomen moving in figure-8s in time to the music in the first 40 seconds or so!

 

[gripen]

my popas do this all the time.

 

[Gretchen]

I'm new to all this, but I've decided, if there's a "Vegas Showgirl" of the mantid world, the Orchid has got to be it! How beautiful!