Why DOES she stay?

[Gretchen]

Little Miss Mantis (Chinese) is going on her 3rd week of living on my open porch. She's always been "free to go"...yet she hangs around. Yes, I find her some food, and make sure she's hydrated, but that's the extent of it... I like to think of it as both nurture and nature caretaking.

So I'm wondering, does she stay because she's getting ready to lay an ooth? Or do mantids just not move around much? Is it just my wonderful hospitality? :lol:

I'm glad she's here. But it amazes me that she still is!

 

[agent A]

As far as I know a mantis will stay put as long as food is plentiful

 

[Rick]

They can in fact move great distances.

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

i think that it is staying because it is female. I have read that females do not move around much, that is why females in most species don't fly much. But the females will fly distances to find a female.(based on what i have heard from others). Also it may stay because it is getting everything it needs there. So there is no point in moving.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Plus she loves you! mantis females like a spot, it is theirs for life unless someone makes them scared or food is becoming scarce.

 

[Gretchen]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm fond of her, so I'm glad she sticks around!

 

[Idolofreak]

As far as I know a mantis will stay put as long as food is plentiful

+1

 

[minard734]

Seems like it's getting too cold. Maybe not such a great idea.

 

[mantisboy]

Seems like it's getting too cold. Maybe not such a great idea.

Yep....I agree...time to bring her inside. Tomorrow we will have a first below 40 degree day......it will be the end of the road for most wild mantids in my neck of the woods.

 

[Psychobunny]

I agree, as long as she is getting everything she needs there, and there are no threats, etc.

why move?

 

[Psychobunny]

Since you are in MD, like me, it's going to be too cold for her and she will soon die.

You could bring her indoors to live out the rest of her life in comfort

 

[kmsgameboy]

I agree that food has a lot to do with it but there are likely other factors. I remember my first mantis (a female chines) hung around my house for a long time after I set her free. It was October and I was having a hard time catching food for her due to the cooler weather and so I put her back were I founder her. To my suprise I was walking around my yard in mid December and found her alive and well in my yard!