Why does an mantids abdoment pulse?

I've noticed that normally all my mantids abdomens pulse, but only when they are eating. As soon as they are done eating, they rythmic pulsing ceases, although I can still see them breathing. So I guess it has something to do with the eating. Does that pulsing somehow help pull their chunky food (since they eat so damn fast it cannot be properly chewed :wink: ) down to the stomach? Just curious.

Actually, the feeding behaviour of mantids is what I find most fascinating about them. Their jaws amaze me, so many moving parts in a complex chewing/cutting pattern. It's like one section cuts, the other pulls food into the mouth, the other grinds, all at the same time. And they eat so much so fast! And those jaws are so strong. They seem to chew through just about anything. Fascinating. But it's gotta suck to have those jaws be the last thing you see. Those big jaws just wrap themselves around a cricket or roach head, and *crunch* half the head is gone.

i read that larger insects gotta do that pulsating to get the air in the blood properly. dont think smaller insects need to do it. i've got no idea really though :wink:

Because that prey is "butt wiggling good"! :-D

Seriously though, you're probably right- their digestive systems are primitive, so the pulsating probably functions to pull the already eaten & digested food down & out. I've noted that the abdomen will also pulse before & during defecation (and delicately tipping to one side so not to be hit by the frass dropping!)