TheTranquilEye
Well-known member
I've noticed both my mantis wobble during feeding and shortly after just before they clean their raptors. Both also wobble more when eating honey. Is this a mantid's happy behaviour perhaps?
The Mantis 'Wobble'
- Thread starter TheTranquilEye
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Sarah K
Well-known member
You mean kind of shake back and forth? I always took that as excitement for the food....not sure if that is true, but it is definitely normal behavior.
LazarusMantid
Well-known member
I also think different mantises wiggle more than others. My ghost wiggles and shimmies all the time where as my H. Venosa will do a slow rock back and forth. Especially when we hold her up nice and high on our hands.
CronicThHempHog
Member
From the information available on this and many sites common view of the mantis "wobble" is that it is ment to cause then to look like a leaf, or other debry, moving in the wind.
Remember they are predators that rely on speed and stealth.
Remember they are predators that rely on speed and stealth.
LazarusMantid
Well-known member
Yeah that's what I thought it might be. Just a behavior they do based on instinct. Not that they don't do everything based on instinct though.. lol So maybe when they're on our hands or arms it feels kind of like a branch to them!
mantisman 230
Well-known member
The motion is a type of crpysis. It allows them to remain undetected, especially in windy conditions. It also helps them stalk prey.
TheTranquilEye
Well-known member
Understood but both mine only do it when food's involved. Otherwise they just stay completely motionless.
mantisman 230
Well-known member
I notice the behavior while walking for a few species. Ghosts are a primary example. They also do the slow wave from side to side as a visual reference system. They get a better idea of what they are looking at.
Sticky
Well-known member
I call it the Yumyum dance!
LAME
Tenodera sinensis (the one and only)
Spiney flowers probably have one of the best wobble dance moves of them all.
MantisRCool
Well-known member
Some of mine do it too when feeding different types of wobble... Some is slower when they come to get the prey, quicker and more "excited like" when I hand feed them or give them honey, then a different type when they are about to fly or jump and crazy me does the wobble with them seems to make them more comfortable lol
different types of wobble... Some is slower when they come to get the prey, quicker and more "excited like" when I hand feed them or give them honey, then a different type when they are about to fly or jump and crazy me does the wobble with them seems to make them more comfortable lol
aesculpius
Well-known member
My understanding is that wobble has almost nothing to do with mimicry but rather for help perceiving depth. By wobbling they can better separate what they are looking at from the back ground allowing them to better judge distances. I came across this in science journal, I can see if I can figure out which one it was. This wobble would have nothing to do with the ghost mantis happy honey dance. That's a mystery to me.
Digger
Well-known member
Correct. Any entomologist will agree. A Yummy dance or happy dance. I've raised quite a few different species and they all do this when munching on a moth or delicious fly. Or enjoying a bit of fresh honey. Or, if you must -- mantisman230 is exactly on target in his first response above. It is a primary example of crpysis.
But I much prefer to interpret it as a yummy or happy dance. Because it is. So there.
mantisman 230
Well-known member
There is a difference. The slow and methodical wave from side to side is the visual aide. The rapid while walking is crypsis. Many insects use a similar method, especially Phasmids.
MantisRCool
Well-known member
Maybe they do the dance so that nobody would steal their treat?
Sticky
Well-known member
Mine do it when I give them water with a spoon.
Maybe it's just their version of the Uhura's fan dance
All my mantids have done it to some degree with my Ghosts (Phyllocrania paradoxa) doing it the most, and my Dead leaf mantids (Deroplatys desiccata) doing the largest version as adults. Not only they were the largest, but when they did it while out on my arm/hand/etc they usually jumped shortly afterwards, so it made me watch them.
All my mantids have done it to some degree with my Ghosts (Phyllocrania paradoxa) doing it the most, and my Dead leaf mantids (Deroplatys desiccata) doing the largest version as adults. Not only they were the largest, but when they did it while out on my arm/hand/etc they usually jumped shortly afterwards, so it made me watch them.
TheTranquilEye
Well-known member
I bought some unadulterated honey from the IT firm I work for. They have 3 hives as part of their 'biodiversity' program.
I gave some to Maude last night and she wobbled like crazy. I had trouble feeding her!
I gave some to Maude last night and she wobbled like crazy. I had trouble feeding her!
