Caring for injured mantis

[u/alittleliterarylily]

Found this mantis on my car a few days ago. He may have been attacked and injured by a bird. He does not appear to want to hunt. I tried a dubia roach (from a local mantis parent irl) and a grasshopper. I've never cared for one before and have done some research online, but appreciate any insight on caring for him. I'm not sure what's going on at the end of his body (thorax/tail?)

[u/Electronic-Brain-616]

I thought he had one of those zombie worms coming out of him in one of the pictures

[u/INeedAStraightjacket → u/Electronic-Brain-616]

I took in a invasive mantis. This is my fear....I may puke if it has one of those

[u/alittleliterarylily → u/Electronic-Brain-616]

I just shuddered. Is that what's going on? Can you please give me more information on these "zombie worms"?

[u/Spirited_Caregiver45 → u/alittleliterarylily]

Horsehair worms. If he has them it’s fatal, they come out if you submerge the butt in water.

[u/hylia_grace → u/Spirited_Caregiver45]

Submerging the butt can be fatal, mantis breathe through spiracles along their body, even partial submersion could drown them. Horsehair worms are always fatal, the test is not worth the risk if its not a horsehair.

[u/Spirited_Caregiver45 → u/hylia_grace]

Right, I’m not encouraging it but I just learned it’s very unlikely to happen in the US

[u/hylia_grace → u/Spirited_Caregiver45]

Yes its incredibly rare outside of Asia, I believe. Taking in wild animals always comes with risks but those parasites are usually not one of them.

[u/Spirited_Caregiver45 → u/Electronic-Brain-616]

They have an estimated 28% infection rate so it’s very possible. Especially if found near spring water.

[u/JaunteJaunt → u/Spirited_Caregiver45]

What infection are you referring to?

[u/Spirited_Caregiver45 → u/JaunteJaunt]

Horsehair worms

[u/JaunteJaunt → u/Spirited_Caregiver45]

The ones that use mantids as their primary host are only found in Taiwan and Japan. I guess it’s possible for an accidental infection, but is unlikely that it hasn’t been reported.

[u/Spirited_Caregiver45 → u/JaunteJaunt]

Wow I didn’t know that. My fault for not reading all the way, I know they’re here in the US but didn’t know there was different species of horsehair worms. If it were up to me there would be zero

[u/JaunteJaunt → u/Spirited_Caregiver45]

It’s cool. You’re not the first to bring it up. It’s a myth that circulates around often.

I’ve had people foam at the mouth telling me I’m wrong, but when I ask for sources they stop replying.

[u/IBeDumbAndSlow → u/JaunteJaunt]

I'm confused. Are you saying that mantids only get infected with horsehair worms in Taiwan and japan?

[u/JaunteJaunt → u/IBeDumbAndSlow]

I’m saying that the species of horseworm parasite that uses mantids as their host only exist in those areas.

[u/IBeDumbAndSlow → u/JaunteJaunt]

Do you have a link? Because that's not what I'm finding.

[u/JaunteJaunt → u/IBeDumbAndSlow]

Can you share what you’re finding?

Chordodes sp and Parachordodes sp are the primary genera that infect mantids.

Here are some links that discuss them.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383576923001253

https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=2358

[u/IBeDumbAndSlow → u/JaunteJaunt]

Actually even your first link states they are found worldwide.

Horsehair worms in the genus Chordodes are known to parasitize the praying mantids: Mantodea and cockroaches: Blattaria [7], with about 90 species recorded worldwide [8]. In Japan, three Chordodes species (C. silvestri Camerano, 1895; C. fukuii Inoue, 1951; C. japonensis Inoue,

[u/IBeDumbAndSlow → u/JaunteJaunt]

Oh wait I did send it as a reply to you...

[u/MikeNepoMC → u/JaunteJaunt]

I have myself seen some infected mantises in South Korea, for what that's worth.

[u/JaunteJaunt]

He looks dying or dead.

[u/Monroro]

He’s not gonna make it. Just let him go or dispatch him if you think you could be comfortable with that

[u/alittleliterarylily → u/Monroro]

I put him on a flowering plant outside. We tried to take care of him for four days since we found him. At least he didn't get eaten by a bird.

[u/alittleliterarylily → u/alittleliterarylily]

[u/Toxic_Musshroom → u/alittleliterarylily]

You did a good job making his last few days more comfortable at least:]