Strange behavior?

[micheleinvirginia]

My adult Lineola sometimes hold thier bodies tight up against the wall of their enclosure, even if they are upside down on the roof.. 1 female in particular is almost always like this now. Her face is almost flattened onto the wall or roof. Is there a reason they do this?

When we take her out and hold her she does it on our hands too and it freaks us out like she is trying to bite us. She hasnt bit, but with her face pressed up against us we feel like she wants too. I dont think it has anything to do with moisture because she gets misted daily and eats 6 days a week.

(I also just want to brag that her first ooth hatched yesterday and I have hundreds of babies, and I have also finally hatched cricket eggs which I have been trying to do for about 6 months now!)

 

[Rick]

Thats normal. Mine do it too.

 

[micheleinvirginia]

Thanks I wonder why she started doing it the second she gets on our hands. Maybe she is shy? :lol:

 

[Borya]

My Hierodula membranacea and H.grandis nymphs often do the same, either when sitting on a flat surface or at the potplants. I think this is the act of their protective behaviour, as if they try to mix with the surroundigs using protective colouring. In my opinion, they look scared. I rarely saw the adult ones do so, more often they flap their wings, for half a second.

 

[Jwonni]

my orcid nymphs do it when they are on the bottom and i pick their jar up

 

[Jodokohajjio]

This is a natural defense mechanism-- The mantis tries to blend in with surroundings by getting as close to the surface it is on as possible. I think this is most common with lichen and tree bark imitating mantids as they have a better chance of hiding when pressing against a flat surface.