Surprise Molt!

[Jinx]

For the past few days, my Hierodula ??? has been munching on anything and everything. In-fact, just yesterday, she chewed on a giant house fly. It wasn't that long ago that she molted into an L4. Earlier today, I noticed her acting kinda strange. I didn't think anything of it, and since she ate so much the night before, I decided to pass on her usual snack.

Right as I was getting ready to leave for work, this happened:

Her old exoskeleton is laying at the bottom. So far, my experience has been that they'll usually swear off food for a day or two before they begin molting. Is it normal for her to devour an entire mealworm and big housefly a day before she molts?

 

[Mantisman.]

Yes, it is not a rule they stop eating one day or more before moulting, sometimes they even eat the same day they moult.

Regards

 

[ScienceGirl]

Mine have done both, and other people have said the same thing, too.

Sometimes they'll eat the same day and surprise you with a new "outfit." Other times, you can be expecting the molt because they'll refuse food. Sometimes, though, they'll simply refuse food because they're full.

 

[minomantis]

I don't know if it's just me, but I've noticed the eating a day before or even same day and molting later with very young nymphs like L1-L4. I think once they get older, they need that time to prepare for their molt.

 

[lancaster1313]

I don't know if it's just me, but I've noticed the eating a day before or even same day and molting later with very young nymphs like L1-L4. I think once they get older, they need that time to prepare for their molt.

For certain species, this is the way it goes for me as well.

 

[Jinx]

Alright guys, thanks! So far my experience is that they always seem to knock their food away for a day or two before the molt and that's all I've read on the Internet. She ate like a champ less than 24 hours before this molt and it just scared me a little. She's doing great and got pretty big this molt. The red on her underside has gotten much more prominent.

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

She looks like a happy girl. Great enclosure from what i can see