Strange Death

[Headspace]

This was a weird one. Hopefully someone else has seen this. I'm not so upset over the mantis (they hatch so many for a reason) so much as I'm afraid this could be a contagious disease or something.

One of my mantids recently started becoming sluggish and the eyes darkened. This was a subadult, right before final molt, so it isn't an old age issue. Eventually it started smelling really bad inside the enclosure. I washed the enclosure but soon realized the smell was coming from the mantid.

There was a blackened spot on the abdomen, which turned out to be the spiracle. There was also a swelling of the abdomen around the spiracle. That, combined with the smell, makes me think it was some sort of infection. The mantid died today.

Anyone else see this happen?

 

[The_Asa]

Yes, I had twice and assumed it was an infection. Not sure how it could be contagious as I hope the mantids are all in seperate containers.

 

[Headspace]

Yes, I had twice and assumed it was an infection. Not sure how it could be contagious as I hope the mantids are all in seperate containers.

They're in seperate containers, and clean them regularly, so it's probably not an issue. I was just curious if anyone else had seen it.

 

[Rick]

I've had it happen. Nobody here will be able to give you the correct answer as to why because nobody knows exactly. I wouldn't worry unless it happens again.