Observing an O. scyllarus molt

[Gonodactylus]

Last week we received a 5 inch female O. scyllarus. She went into a feeding experiment looking at the ability of stomatopods to learn to open novel shell types. Monday she broke open a snail, but yesterday would not even try. That, plus the fact that she was pulling a lot of rubble into her cut-away burrow suggested that she was going to molt soon. This morning I was on my way to a seminar and walked past her aquarium. She was on her back and breathing rapidly. I guessed that she was going to molt within a couple of minutes which just gave me time to grab my closest camera and take a few shots. The actual ecdysis took about 30 seconds and she righted herself about 3 minutes after molting. Within two hours she had buried the entire molt skin and made a trip out of the burrow to retrieve more gravel. Attached are a couple of photos. Unfortunately, she had partially walled up the window, so I couldn't get the entire body into frame, but in one shot you can see the antennal scale pulling free and in another you can see the old eye exoskeleton next to her eyes.

Roy

 

[gozermantis]

this is awesome can't believe you just happen to be walking by at the exactly right time!

 

[JmartWI]

How can you tell when a stomatopod is "breathing rapidly"? What does that look like?
Very cool shots, by the way.

 

[Kharn]

Very interesting love the pics very detailed!

More

MORE!

 

[MantisO_o]

Wow, nice

 

[TundraGuy]

This is amazing doc thanks for posting it.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Stomatopods breath by beating their gills (Pleopods). Normal rates when at rest are 1 metacronal wave every couple of seconds. When stressed or recovering from vigorous exercise this rate increases. Just before molting the animal is working hard to contract its muscles and increase hydrostatic pressure, hence the increase in ventilation rate.

Roy

 

[TundraGuy]

Hey doc off topic but what would one look for as signs of over feeding or obesity in a mantis? I understand that fatty liver disease are one of the lesser known killers of mantis. But how does one discern this and what would you recommend for treatment?
Do you have any tips on what to look for in early onsets of shell rot disease? This one has been asked a lot but I would like to read it first hand from you.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Never heard of fatty liver disease in stomatopods. I don't know anything about it.

Shell rot in O. scyllarus and G. ternatensis often starts out as a few rust colored "stains" sometimes associated with scratches to the cuticle.

Roy

 

[Jodah]

Very cool Dr Roy. Even after only finding out about these animals a few months ago, I'm obsessed with learning more and more about them.

 

[FLMantis]

Awesome pics!!! Thanks for sharing!!!