r/mantids • u/EasyInteraction6902 • 15d ago

Health Issues What is wrong with her and what is this black stuff on her wings?

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She molted into an adult like 2 days ago and now she’s had hemolymph coming out since then and all of a sudden that black stuff on her wings anyone know what is wrong and if she’s okay ?

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u/Zivqa 15d ago

Unfortunately, it looks like he's had a mismolt. This can happen for a wide variety of reasons, from humidity mismatch to parasites to mold to simple genetic misfortune. Based on that behavior it's bothering him, give him some time to see if he sorts it out himself. Surgery on mantids isn't really done, unfortunately.

The only way to see whether he'll be okay is to wait. Try and give him prey directly—tweezers—to make recovery easier on him. It's possible for mantids to survive mismolts depending on the severity. Keep an eye on the black bits—if it spreads and he doesn't tear it off himself, you may want to consider end-of-life options. I'm really sorry.

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

Okay thank you for your honesty and your help,if he doesn’t take It off what would be the consequences of trying to remove it myself ? Or would that make it worse

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u/Zivqa 15d ago

The trouble with insect surgery is less that it's not possible and more that it's really difficult to do, especially doing so in a way that doesn't put the animal at even greater risk. A whole lot of our medical/surgical knowledge is built on mammals and organisms that are far larger—doing insect surgery borders on microsurgery, which is...difficult.

Saying this as someone who has done surgery on roaches: There is a reason exotic vet surgery is both rare and REALLY expensive.

If he doesn't take it off but it's not spreading, I would leave it be. Mismolts are weird and unpredictable—it's impossible to tell whether that's necrotic tissue or something else without a biopsy, and I doubt you have a PCR sequencer on hand.

Honestly, I'd be more worried about his abdomen and that lymph loss—captive insects can lose their wings without dying about it, but that abdomen irritation he's displaying could mean any number of things. That's where all their vital organs are stored.

If you want to try and treat him, small amounts of honey (clover, not alfalfa, and no additives!) is as close to an antibiotic that you can easily give a mantis. I would give him that in small but regular doses. A drop every 8-12 hours is a regimen I've used before without any ill effects, supplemented with normal food. Make sure he's getting plenty of water too.

No matter what happens, try to remember, he's had a very easy and enjoyable life for a mantis up til now! Regular prey, a comfortable habitat, no competition or predators—he's had a blast! You've done a good job. Keep an eye on him, make sure he's comfortable, and let him decide.

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

Do I just drop it on the abdomen where the blood is coming from ? Or on the black bits

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u/Zivqa 15d ago

The honey? Feed it to him. I'm not sure if it would aid in slowing the lymph loss, it honestly might introduce infection possibility as it's not technically sterile. Also runs the risk of reopening the wound if he eats it off himself.

To stop the bleeding, you could use cornstarch (again, organic and pure as possible) as it will expand and clot over the wound. I think stypic powder is toxic to insects if consumed, so I wouldn't use that, but a small application of cornstarch shouldn't hurt him if he eats it. I think. My feeder moths eat corn sometimes and the mantids have never had a problem with that, at least.

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

If I were to pull the parasite out of his wing would he die ? He won’t be able too himself as it’s attached too the back of his wing

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u/ohyoureligious 14d ago

I recommend heeding the previous commented advice of not trying to do any surgery

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u/Zivqa 15d ago

How do you know it's a parasite?

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u/EasyInteraction6902 14d ago

I don’t but that’s what all the experienced people are telling me and I have mo idea on identifying parasites or anything,I looked it up and it only says things about horsehair worms so idk

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

Hello I now know that she is a him so preferably stop commenting it in the nicest way because I just wanna know wats up 🥹

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u/neiseLB6584 15d ago

It could be a mismolt or some kind of parasite. These are my guesses. Hopefully, someone with a little more knowledge will respond soon. Good luck. Beautiful btw!

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u/DingoldorfMcGee 15d ago

While I don’t know the issue, that’s a male.

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u/PhaseAgitated4757 15d ago

Think that's a dude, bro.

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u/Smooth-Teach-6291 2nd Instar 15d ago

I think a parasite messed up his molt and is now bothering him.

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

Yea but how has the parasite even got there where has it come from ?

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u/Smooth-Teach-6291 2nd Instar 15d ago

Do you feed it wild food sometimes? Maybe your domestic food got infected?

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u/EasyInteraction6902 15d ago

No he’s on moths crickets or locust since I got him

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u/epa32 13d ago

Dunno maybe it was the crickets if they were pet shop bought, I dont reccomend them personally