Who killed my Mantis

[salden]

I have several mantis around. Three out by the driveway (the psychos) and two in the back yard near the pond. I can always count on them being in the area. I went out back to photograph the smaller mantis and I could not find him. I went around the bush and there he was .

Looks like he got his insides sucked right out of him.



_________________
Sue Alden

[Planapo]

Sue, I don´t think you have to worry about this find!
It looks like exuviae to me and your mantis has just moulted and might be still around in a new exoskeleton.

--Betty

edit: Misspelling

[salden]

Thanks Betty . I am going back out and look for the little guy...well I suppose if this is what happened, he will not be that little anymore.
_________________
Sue Alden

[Planapo]

Good luck with your search then!

And maybe you should look out for a bigger lady because judging from the cerci and no styli I can see in your picture ,I think , your "he" could in fact be a she.

--Betty

[MacroLuv]

I would like to find them at the moulting time.
Maybe they are doing that during the night?
_________________
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome.

[Ken Ramos]

I thought maybe an assassin or something of the sort had gotten a hold of it but you can see where the exoskeleton has split. Actually I did not know they did that sort of thing and actually I seldom see any around my neck of the woods. Must not be "holding my mouth right," as grand dad used to say.
_________________
Ken Ramos
Rutherford Co., Western North Carolina

[salden]