Red line on abdomen

Mantidkid · Jun 6, 2017

Hey I'm a little worried about the red line running directly down the sideof my rhombodera basalis' abdomen I'm not sure what it is! Any advice?

Velve · Jun 6, 2017

Like this? That's just part of their coloration.

Mantidkid · Jun 6, 2017

Velve said:
View attachment 9264

Like this? That's just part of their coloration.

Yes like that, but I have seen that it comes up more when he is close to molting and I was told that it was blood and his skin was splitting so that is reassuring. Would there be a reason it is brighter when he is close to molting?

Velve · Jun 6, 2017

Mantidkid said:
Yes like that, but I have seen that it comes up more when he is close to molting and I was told that it was blood and his skin was splitting so that is reassuring. Would there be a reason it is brighter when he is close to molting?

Hemolymph does not contain any hemoglobin and therefore does not look red like our blood. The reason it appears brighter in preperation of molts might be due to the mantis pumping in more air in order to burst open the carapace and slip out. If you're feeding it a lot until the abdomen is swollen you're probably gonna see it quite well too.

Mantidkid · Jun 6, 2017

Velve said:
Hemolymph does not contain any hemoglobin and therefore does not look red like our blood. The reason it appears brighter in preperation of molts might be due to the mantis pumping in more air in order to burst open the carapace and slip out. If you're feeding it a lot until the abdomen is swollen you're probably gonna see it quite well too.

Ok thanks I feed it 2 large fruit flies every day and he is nice and plump! I can't wait for her to molt I think it will be soon! Thanks for the info!!