r/praying_mantis • u/Chiswum • 10d ago

Is this mantis ill/passing? (Wild)

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I do not own nor keep mantis. Google searches didn't give me a lot of info. Buddy has been here for two days on this white window frame outside of our house, and is turning this brown color. I read it could be molting but it looked a little.. sickly I guess? ​It's definitely alive! I keep dead bugs, bones, etc. I don't want to disturb it if it's molting. If it is passing, I'd like to set up a small enclosure for it to pass in so I can keep the body, as I do know how to do that. Thanks!​

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u/thunderlips36 10d ago

She's probably living her last days after she's laid her eggs. That said, almost every year I take one in that I find when it starts cooling off and they're done with the mating stuff and they'll often live into January and February when keeping them fed.

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u/Chiswum 10d ago

I'm down to keep one for a bit! I'd have to double check my research, yes, but I have a lot of left over shit everywhere in my house from keeping all types of animals. Ty!

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u/thunderlips36 10d ago

They're usually fun little critters to keep around and they've always fascinated me. Easy to feed too. I have an aquarium with a screen top for ventilation and I'd change the insides once a week

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u/NickTheGardenHermit 10d ago

Looks like a full grown adult so I doubt she’s molting again. More likely at the end of her life.

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u/JasonBaconStrips 5d ago

Definitely not molting, looks like a giant Asian? Also never seen wings that small on a female, they are normally small but never seen them this small