Hymenopus orchid mantis behaviour

Pauline
Junior Member
Hatchling Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cwmbran, S Wales

strange H coronatus behaviour?

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Three times now, I’ve seen H coronatus ‘regurgitate’ food. The first couple of times I wasn’t quite sure what I saw… but last night I saw her do it again. She seems to do it when I open her tub to spray (but not every time): she crouches down, flat on her leave (or wherever she is) and moves her head (quite fast) side to side along the leave very quickly, at the same time a brown liquid (I’m assuming food?) comes out of her mouth—- so she leaves a soggy brown smear wherever she’s done it.

I’m wondering if anyone else has seen this behaviour in H coronatus? Does it mean something? or maybe she over-eats? I’m assuming it’s not some ‘illness’ as she only seems to do it when disturbed, and the first time I saw her do it was the day she arrived with me 24 Feb.

Best wishes,
Pauline

KennethJ78
Junior Member
Hatchling Join Date: Oct 2005

Hey Pauline

I’ve noticed this “vomiting” numerous times with several mantid species.
It mostly indicates that the mantis is suffering from some kind of fungal infection, due to high humidity in combination with poor ventilation. Also providing the mantids prey items that have recently been fed with wet food items ( for instance.. having fed your crickets with apple , tomato a few hours before feeding them to your mantids ) can cause your mantis to regurgitate.

This is a serious problem that can eventually kill your mantis.

The solution to this problem: Make sure that the humidity level drops.
Better yet: increase the ventilation if that should be the problem.
Also try feeding them flies instead of cricket / small roaches…

Oh yeah… and keeping your fingers crossed might help 😕

Good luck !!

Categorised in: Mantis

12 years ago