There are no native mantids on Hawaii. Tenodera angustipennis was introduced there, but this species obviously does not belong to that species. So, there must have been a second introduction of some Hierodula species. I would really like to know of some records of this incident.
What is this thing on this wild mantis?
- Thread starter macro junkie
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Greg
Guest
Hi, I took the images posted here via macro junkie. There is some discussion on the photography forum where I initially posted that it could be a proboscis (sorry...spelling) of a butterfly.
It's interesting as I just got back from the park where I took the images (yesterday) to try and find her and see if I could get some more close up images. She was on a series of plants that were fairly secluded from the larger bushy areas of the park so I thought maybe she might still be there.
No luck, but I did find two partially eaten moth/butterflys right below where she was yesterday. I took some images and will try to post in a bit. Heads gone on both and while the abdomen was intact the carcass seemed "feather" light; like the insides were gone. I no very little about insects but I've spent a bit of time at the park practicing my macro techniques and have a series of pics where a 3 inch mantid ate every last morsel of some large winged bug.
Do mantids sometimes eat part of a meal, like the head, and drop the rest? Of course other things could've eaten these butterflies as it is in the wild...geckos, spiders, etc...are all present.
Sorry for my ignorance in this area. I just it was weird to see something like this on a mantid. I've taken thousands of photos of these guys at this park and never saw whatever it is around that is around his neck/arm.
ABbuggin
Well-known member
Now thats make a lot a sense, I bet it is a proboscis. Thats why its all wrapped around the mantis.
Mantida
Well-known member
Mantids will drop some portion of their food sometimes, almost always wings are dropped. It depends on species though, some will drop partially eaten prey, others the withered husks of their meal, and some will eat the entire thing down to nothing.
The proboscis explains why she is so dirty looking in the pictures; butterfly scales after a meal. The way it is wrapped around her forearm looks strange though.
The proboscis explains why she is so dirty looking in the pictures; butterfly scales after a meal. The way it is wrapped around her forearm looks strange though.
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Krissim Klaw
Well-known member
Wow, that's a crazy picture, never seen something wrapped around a mantis like that before. Maybe she is into bondage.
MantidLord
Well-known member
:lol: It was payback for all the butterflies the mantis ate.Wow, that's a crazy picture, never seen something wrapped around a mantis like that before. Maybe she is into bondage.
