How long can a mantis stay holed up for after a molt?

[DensityMan]

I know Tim generally takes 6-8 days.

Once after a tank-catastrophe he stayed holed up for 2 weeks.

When should one give up the ghost and ;check' by breaking down the door and seeing if the mantis is still alive?

Not asking for Tim... just for general knowledge (and because APyknel asked me in another thread).

 

[Hwarang]

Banstyle, my N. wennerae, was hidden for 3 weeks. I was *that close* repatriating the corals and LR ... good thing I saw her!

 

[Gonodactylus]

It really depends on size and species. Generally the large the animal (and species), the longer they remain closed. However, this is not absolute. O. scyllarus generally do not close up nearly as long as a G. platysoma or G. chiragra.

THree weeks for a N. wennerae is a bit long - usually it is under two weeks for a very large animals. By contrast, a 2 cm individual would probably be closed only 3 or 4 days.

 

[Hwarang]

Well, I haven't heard her tap-tap-tapping since she's been more visible ... perhaps she is satisfied with her network of caves and tunnels. If she was coincidentally shy this past week as well as not tunneling, I suppose I could have mistaken it for an extra long molt. Still no color change.