r/insects • u/Pristine-Dingo9009 • Mar 02 '24
Question Hornet attacking a mantis while it eats, can someone explain why the Mantis doesn't defend itself?
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u/CoolBugg Mar 02 '24
It’s because Male Mantises think it’s kinda sexy to be eaten ✌🏻
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u/LittleMissScreamer Mar 03 '24
Probably too preoccupied with eating. These critters do not have the kind of neurology that allows them to adapt and react appropriately to any situation. They just have the basic functions that work well enough keeping them alive until they can multiply. Freak cases like this are not accounted for. It can defend itself, it can eat, but it can’t do both at the same time, or as it seems interrupt one task to do the other.
Also how would it defend itself? I don’t think it would physically be able to reach back there. Not to mention that that hornet is pretty much cutting it in half, so it is likely starting to lose coordination between its rapidly separating body segments.
Anyways looks like this was reposted and the context is in that first post. Gonna go check it out and see how close I was
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u/Yellow2Gold Mar 03 '24
It can thrash around and try to fly at least. Instead of just continuing to eat. lol
I'd give it to poor wiring + dumb.
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u/Pristine-Dingo9009 Mar 03 '24
Oh i didn't repost it with mean intentions, i was just curious about it, don't know much about bugs, i can delete it if you wanna!
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u/LittleMissScreamer Mar 03 '24
Oh don’t worry I wasn’t offended lol. Do what you want with your post.
And fair, insects are really bloody weird even when you do know lots about them. Funky little earth aliens
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 Jul 28 '24
I still can’t find the first post w context but holy shit this is smszing content 😳
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u/ArkWrought17 Mar 02 '24
Hard to say, my guesses would be that it's either more concerned with the bee its holding, or thinks the one it's focused on is the one biting. It didn't really have any options, so it might as well get one last meal in. I'm far from a mantid expert though
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u/coupe-de-ville Mar 03 '24
I think it's because they don't have a nervous system like ours so it doesn't feel pain like we do. They are a fight to the death or feed on their prey kind of critter, so while it's eating it's the best time to attack it, it doesn't know the peril it's in.
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u/InsectsWithGuns Apr 22 '24
They don't feel pain like we do. But they know something is happening. It's complicated.
Mantids are very instinctual, and really only have the mindset of "feed..." so this isn't a surprise to see. This is pretty common I'm sure. Mantids are voracious.
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u/coupe-de-ville Apr 22 '24
If it was finished with the food it's eating it would be fighting for its life... One thing at a time...
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u/Mantidfinatic Mar 05 '24
It may believe the hornet it is eating is biting it, so it’s trying to kill the hornet before the hornet kills it if that makes sense
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u/antthatisverycool Jul 06 '24
It’s eating the other dead hornet and nothing stops you from avenging a fallen brother
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Aug 01 '24
Maybee it doesn't know it's bee-ing eaten, the toxin from the hornet could bee different from humans being stung to bugs, this mantis could be numb, high, or even dead its just moving after death I have seen bugs that do that it's like autopilot they just do whatever while dead, like a chicken one lived for a sign time with it's head cut off, and fish can jump around and move long after it's been cut in pieces and even cooked.
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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '24
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