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Post by mschwa6835 on Nov 16, 2011 10:13:44 GMT -8
My female katydid has bitten off three of her front legs. She is still alive, does anyone know why this would happen, or what I can do Attachments:
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Post by wingedwishes on Nov 16, 2011 14:10:31 GMT -8
A guess only: If mites had chewed on the integument in between leg segments then the insect might have chewed on that area to relieve irritation.
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Post by jackblack on Nov 21, 2011 3:59:25 GMT -8
Very intersting.
I think your Katydid is lacking in something in its diet .
In the past I had collected some Ktydids over many years amongst other insects and after returning from a night walk sometimes an insect in a container was forgotten or misplaced and after several days or a week the container was rediscovered in the backpack and I also noticed the Katydid would chew off one of its own legs .My presumption is rather than starve to death the insect thinks I have to eat something , so cannabilises itself rather than die , I haven`t experimented with this and I don`t want to put the insects through unnecessary agony , but I do feel your insect may be lacking something in its diet possibly.
Is your Katydd a herbivore or carnivore?
Cheers
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