I’m not sure if my mantis has reached full adulthood but I want to check to see what the sex is. (Giant Asian mantis)

Spiny flower mantis nymph is pacing around and “stretching” is this a pre molt? Normal behavior? Temp and humidity are OK the cover to the enclosure is just temporary, previously had a twine mesh but it looked like loose fibers were falling off and ordered a nylon mesh screen for the top instead.

My sweet girl seems to be stuck by her forelimbs mid molt, she’s been like this for ~1hr. Should I just chill out and give her time? I already misted the sides of the enclosure. Her arms look mostly free, is she a good candidate for me carefully helping her get out?

I just wanted to share the successful molt of my mantis. I’m excited because it’s my first mantis orchid

Magnolia is an i5-ish giant asian mantis and her last molt was august 8th. Is this a cause for concern? Could this be caused by poor husbandry? She isn't my first mantis so I'd like to think I know what I'm doing, but maybe not.

Alfonso was found on the bottom of his enclosure today. He hadn't been eating for a bit, but he seemed fine otherwise. His enclosure is at 76% humidity.

He's a Double Shield mantis, male. He's been an adult for about two months now. Is it just his time, or is he sick?

I know that there isn't a ton I can do at this point, but I'm terrified of losing my boy. If there is anything I can do to help him get better, it would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice about my Hierodula sp. Papua, currently around L5/L6.
She molted about three weeks ago. Before molting, she was active, hunted on her own, and ate well. Since then, her behavior has changed a lot. She barely moves around and mostly stays in one spot. Her abdomen is extremely flat from the side, although it looks wider from above.
She watches flies and sometimes slowly moves toward them, but usually stops and just watches. I’ve only definitely seen her eat once since molting, when I placed a fly right in front of her. She grabbed it immediately and ate without any problems. I suspect she may have eaten a cricket too, but I didn’t actually see it happen. Her abdomen hasn’t visibly changed after eating.
She grips branches normally, her raptorial forelegs look fine, and she can still catch prey. Temperature and humidity are stable and within the recommended range.
I’ve contacted the breeder I got her from. They said she looks thin but not dangerously thin yet and recommended continuing to offer flies. I’m still worried because she’s much less active than before and barely seems to eat.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Is this normal, or could something else be going on?

TL;DR: My Hierodula sp. Papua (L5/L6) has been much less active and barely eating since molting three weeks ago. Her abdomen is very flat, but she can still catch and eat prey when it’s right in front of her. Temperature and humidity seem fine. Looking for advice or similar experiences.

Snapped this picture earlier but this fella has been hanging by my door all day and the temps are dropping. Any ideas what it’s doing and if it will survive the cold weather over night?

I screamed when I came home from work! She literally just ate last night when I fed her after a week and half of being concerned she wasn't eating. I have no clue how to tell when my mantises are in pre-molt anymore. 🙃

also any tips for finding a praying mantis next time?

Is the black between the segments an indication of overfeeding?

Background:
This is Marty Jade, aka MJ. Lil dude plopped on my hand when turning the doorknob to enter my home a month or two back (I am time blind). I put the dude on my houseplants and after two days I realized I needed to learn how to care for this wonderful baby creature.

I think he’s like L5?? I don’t know. He’s got wing buds and on a previous post a redditor said the next molt he’d get his wings.

Another previous post a friendly redditor said, “never seen someone keep iris oratoria before. Very cool.”

I am in southwest United States area.

MJ is always down for an AMA. I can translate since I have learned the language of his species in exchange for small crickets, wax worms, wingless fruit flies, and unfettered access to all 37 of my houseplants. MJ chilling on Tony the Tiger plant enjoying the last bits of a smedium cricket is pictured.

Fair trade if you ask me.

So I know some mantis get very picky on what to eat but I already have fruit flies WHAY else can a mantis this young eat just in case?

My mantis is drying from his molt (first one I've seen him but he either just became an adult or sub-adult). He has green fluid on his eyes. One has a lot more than the other.

Researching it sounds like this isn't normal and is blood 😞 has anyone had this happen during a molt?

He developed eye rub in the past week or so. I covered the top of his enclosure to prevent it from getting worse. I'm worried he may have damaged his new tissue prior to the molt and not sure if he will recover.

So this little guy every day I feel like his ABD is more white and still plump. Last fed 10/19. Is he over fed or about to molt??? Should I offer food? He is still moving around and even took water from q tip I offered.
What should I do.?

So I currently have a few mantises, I just moved them into a new house since where I normally stay has an infestation problem and is getting treated for a few weeks.

So Calypso (my mantis) last molted on Sep 16 and before that, Aug 27 when she was shipped to me. Before I had moved them, the house I was staying in was very warm 24/7. it would stay at 75-78 during the day and 72 at night.

While they’re staying here, the temp is set to 71 most of the time but I have a heater in my room that I’m now running. I cannot change the heat because my upstairs neighbors floor will also change. I’ve complained to the landlord about this (because wth? This shouldn’t even be an issue and should’ve been stated before moving in) and she’s trying to find a way around that issue.

Is there anything I can do? she looks completely full but I havent fed her in a few days :( I’m so concerned and worried.. with the heater, it says it’s about 74f in here

A mantis visited my garden and built an ootheca before running off. I've not seen one that has this cottony texture at the bottom. Is that normal? I caught her in the act of creating it but gave her some space to finish it. I'm concerned that she left it prematurely.

Thanks in advance!

I recently bought my first praying mantis—it's still pretty young. I've had it for three days, and I'd like to make sure I'm feeding it properly. I'm still not sure if her abdomen is the right size. Could someone tell me if my praying mantis is full? Am I feeding her right?

All species include
Deroplatys gorochovi
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi
Phyllocrania paradoxa
Hymenopus coronatus

Not sure if the pictures are clear enough of not! Also, are there any ways to tell the instar?

Edit* added genital lip photo in comments

i have a friend with a young ghost mantis that seems about L4. she got her a month ago and still no signs of a molt, most sources online say 2-4 weeks between molts so it's got us kind of worried. I got an orchid mantis at the same time and she's molted twice in that time. what could be affecting her if there is an issue?

i think her humidity might be a little too high but she doesn't use hygrometers or thermometers so i can't give any figures. she mists quite heavily every 2 days and was using a fly cup with the foam ventilation but shes switched to fabric mesh ventilation over the top. i've seen online high humidity can cause failed molts so could it be a variable?

we live in scotland and our nights are getting very cold now, i keep trying to encourage her to get a heat mat but she insists her room is hot. i can only go off my room temps that are usually about 18 at night and 22 during the day. again since she doesn't use thermometers i don't have any temps for her room. outside temps for the day are usually anywhere from 4 to 12.

she offers fruit flies every night or two and they're always eaten by the mantis so her appetite isn't being affected and she usually hangs out near the top and sides of her enclosure with no changes to her behaviour.

are we overthinking it and is there any advice anyone can offer? or a way to convince her to get more equipment?

hi guys! my Australian mantis is about 7 months old now, shes been in her final stage for 3 months or so now. she's been very active but losing her grip and she fell earlier eating food while trying to grip onto a plant i have.

she hasnt laid her eggs yet so thats what im guessing this is, but is something wrong? or is she just slowly dying

Are these concerning?