Mantis vision question for Dr. Roy

[Thurge]

I know we have all talked about how good a mantis's vision is and how they see in many more colors than humans, including polarized light and wavelengths at the extreme ends of "visible" light. What I am wondering is how well can a mantis see reflections. I have Hairy, my G. Chiagra set up in my girlfriend's son's bedroom. His tank is on the same wall as the door and his burrow faces into the room, with a large piece of LR that blocks his direct view of the door. Just about any time I walk past this door it seems like Hairy is watching, but only his eyes are poking out of his burrow and he isn't twisted around like he is looking around the edge of his burrow. In fact he seems to be looking at the front piece of glass, watching me watching him in the reflection. Its like talking to someone looking into a mirror when they are in another room. You are making direct eye contact in the mirror but if you were to turn to look at them there would be a wall in the way.
Is he really seeing us pass by and watching our reflection or is this just what it seems like?
Thanks

 

[Gonodactylus]

Stomatopods certainly have no problem seeing reflected images. There is a sequence in "Fastest Claw" where a G. chiragra is seen "fighting" its image. The animal is in a full telson coil and lunges repeatedly at is own reflection. We see this quiet frequently when the lighting is right and there is a reflection. At times when I'm photographing animals, they will even pick up their refection from the filter on the front of the lens.

Roy

 

[mattyice]

its funny you bring this up because i was wondering the same thing the other day and i placed a mirror in front of my peacock tank and she would lunge out and see the bigger reflection (larger magnification mirror) and would get in what looked like a submissive posture and would place her head really low on the sand and look up at the reflection

 

[Altpers0na-old]

didnt think i would see the word submissive used to describe a peacock....

 

[Gonodactylus]

Even the most aggressive species of stomatopod such as G. chiragra show submissive agonistic behavior in defeat. A species such as O. scyllarus which has evolved more ritualized displays exhibits even more developed submissive postures.

Roy

 

[mattyice]

without a doubt it looked like she was in a very submissive display, i was actually very surprised that it was so noticeable its almost like she thought the larger image in the mirror was a large male, im going to try and find mirror with a more clear image and doesnt magnify the reflection and see if there is any difference

 

[Thurge]

Thanks for the information. SInce Hairy is using the glass like a mirror to see whats going on I guess there is no way to sneak up on him and see what he gets up to when nobody is around.

Unless I set up a blind in the kid's room.