pizzuti
Well-known member
Recently, I noticed a new thing about how mantids hunt.
If I put prey in the mantid's cage and leave the cage alone against a plain white wall, the mantid well very slowly move for the prey. It could take 20 minutes for the mantid to move 6 inches.
But if I wave my hands around the cage, simulating swaying branches, the mantid will move faster. It moves in sync with the movements of my hands; when I stop waiving, the mantid stops approaching the prey, and when I start waiving again the mantid lurches forward a little bit with each hand movement.
I realize that the mantid is trying to disguise its own movements by resembling a blowing leaf or twig; it thinks my hands are branches, and hopes the prey will think so too. But I still think it's pretty interesting. Before mating, the males approach the females in this fashion as well.
Also, if the prey moves a little faster, the mantid will move faster and go for it, but if it's very slow prey, the mantid will mimic the prey's slow movements. This is probably because a busily buzzing fly will not notice a mantid looming over it but a waiting fly may see the mantid's movement and escape. Or maybe it's because a moving fly will not stay there long, so the mantid has to move quick or miss the opportunity.
If it's not too distracting for the mantid to keep its focus on the insect, maybe someone could try putting their mantid cage in front of a moving TV or ceiling fan to get it to go for prey faster if things are painfully slow. I don't have to do that now because the mantids I have are very hungry and aggressive adults, and will move for anything even in a still place. But it would be a useful strategy for feeding stubborn nymphs and some males that are reluctant to eat anything, and when they do, go for it so slowly that it's hard to tell if it's really hungry or not.
If I put prey in the mantid's cage and leave the cage alone against a plain white wall, the mantid well very slowly move for the prey. It could take 20 minutes for the mantid to move 6 inches.
But if I wave my hands around the cage, simulating swaying branches, the mantid will move faster. It moves in sync with the movements of my hands; when I stop waiving, the mantid stops approaching the prey, and when I start waiving again the mantid lurches forward a little bit with each hand movement.
I realize that the mantid is trying to disguise its own movements by resembling a blowing leaf or twig; it thinks my hands are branches, and hopes the prey will think so too. But I still think it's pretty interesting. Before mating, the males approach the females in this fashion as well.
Also, if the prey moves a little faster, the mantid will move faster and go for it, but if it's very slow prey, the mantid will mimic the prey's slow movements. This is probably because a busily buzzing fly will not notice a mantid looming over it but a waiting fly may see the mantid's movement and escape. Or maybe it's because a moving fly will not stay there long, so the mantid has to move quick or miss the opportunity.
If it's not too distracting for the mantid to keep its focus on the insect, maybe someone could try putting their mantid cage in front of a moving TV or ceiling fan to get it to go for prey faster if things are painfully slow. I don't have to do that now because the mantids I have are very hungry and aggressive adults, and will move for anything even in a still place. But it would be a useful strategy for feeding stubborn nymphs and some males that are reluctant to eat anything, and when they do, go for it so slowly that it's hard to tell if it's really hungry or not.
