Stuck on tape!

[MandellaMandy123]

Hi all!

I am so scared right now... My tiny praying mantis nymph, Mandella, somehow got her self stuck on some scotch tape! It's stuck to her abdomen... I've tried soaking her in water, with no success. She's already lost one leg because of it. My mom and I have tried to cut it as close as possible, and she doesn't seem to be in much pain. What can I do to save her life?

~Wolfie

 

[PhilinYuma]

Hi all!

I am so scared right now... My tiny praying mantis nymph, Mandella, somehow got her self stuck on some scotch tape! It's stuck to her abdomen... I've tried soaking her in water, with no success. She's already lost one leg because of it. My mom and I have tried to cut it as close as possible, and she doesn't seem to be in much pain. What can I do to save her life?

~Wolfie

Yep, sticky tape wreaks havoc with mantids. Don't let it anywhere near them, though I guess you know that now. :mellow: I think that you have done about all you can do. The danger, as you have found, is that the nymph's feet get stuck on it and wont get unstuck, but if five legs are working fine, I'd suggest that you wait until it drops off (and then get rid of it right away!) or until the nymph molts. I'm sorry that you had such bad luck so soon, but you got a sound lesson early. Let us know what happens.

I'll also light a candle to the Great Mantis Goddess (BbHN).

 

[Domanating]

First of all scotch tape is a ridiculous thing to put in a cage with bugs. With time the tape will start detaching. Mantids that are not used to cages will try to fit their heads wherever they think they might escape and sooner or later they will get stuck in the holes made by those old tapes. Luckily your mantis got its abdomen stuck and not the head. If they lose their antennae they'll have a very hard time living. Use glue and wait for it to dry before putting anything in your enclosures.

Your tape must be really super to withstand water. Warm water would work best. Alcohol too but i dont know if that second option is harmful to a mantis, specially for a nymph. If you're unable to get that tape out try to make it as tiny as possible. With some luck the mantid might get rid of it when it molts.

 

[Malti]

First of all scotch tape is a ridiculous thing to put in a cage with bugs. With time the tape will start detaching. Mantids that are not used to cages will try to fit their heads wherever they think they might escape and sooner or later they will get stuck in the holes made by those old tapes. Luckily your mantis got its abdomen stuck and not the head. If they lose their antennae they'll have a very hard time living. Use glue and wait for it to dry before putting anything in your enclosures.

Your tape must be really super to withstand water. Warm water would work best. Alcohol too but i dont know if that second option is harmful to a mantis, specially for a nymph. If you're unable to get that tape out try to make it as tiny as possible. With some luck the mantid might get rid of it when it molts.

alcohol should be a huge NO with insects as its mostly fatal. just water and patience

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yeah, I've been thinking about this, Wolfie. Definitely no kind of alcohol. and if you and your mom have not been able to get it off with water, there seems little point in stressing it further by repeated attempts. Now that I think of it, I am a bit concerned that the two rows of tiny holes along the abdomen, called spiracles, that let insects take in oxygen, might be blocked by the tape, but if the nymph continues to look fine, then it seems that you and it were lucky.

There is one other thing that you can do. Take a paintbrush and dip it in some unscented talcum powder. Put yr nymph in a bowl, then "paint" a small amount of the dust on top of any sticky parts of the tape. This will render it non adhesive. Don't use more powder than you need, blow on him to remove any excess powder and then return the nymph to his house. It the tape is still on when the nymph molts, it will definitely be shed with the old skin.

Again, good luck, and keep us up to date.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Thank you so so so much for repsponding so quickly everyone!

@PhilinYuma - Thank you so much for all of the advice! I am very lucky that it was only on the bottom of her abdomen and wasn't blocking her spiracles, I thought of that too.... I'll try the talcum powder idea! Thanks!

@Domanating - It wasn't in the cage with her. I had her out and she started running and got caught in it.... I've never seen a mantis run so fast! Thanks for your help!

@Malti - Thanks for letting me know

She appears to be perfectly fine right now. She is crawling around her container just like always! We were able to cut it very close, so after the talcum powder, we'll just wait it out... Thanks so much, everyone, and I'll keep you posted on what happens!

~Wolfie

 

[MandellaMandy123]

As of this morning she seems to be doing fine. She ate two small flies, so... I'm hoping for her!

 

[Malti]

thats good to know

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Yes! And she's still doing fine today. I think she'll be alright! Thanks so much for the help, everyone! I really appreciate it!!!