Many people see praying mantis moving indoors or hiding on larger trees, which creates an urge to know the reasons for this particular hiding behavior.
Where Do Praying Mantis Go When It Rains? A praying mantis hides under vegetation, natural hideouts, other ground-level spots, and within tree trunks or stems to prevent their bodies from getting wet during rain, as they do not like direct water spraying on their bodies. It affects their mobility, disrupts reproductive activity, reduces hunting rates, and poses a risk of fungal infection and predation.
They exhibit varying behaviors under different circumstances as they need a humid and warm environment to live but extreme conditions are not favorable for them.
Where does a praying mantis go when it rains?
Praying mantis avoid direct contact with water during heavy rain because their bodies can get wet, and they do not feel comfortable with wet bodies.
Many people mist their enclosures to keep their bodies hydrated and avoid drying of an exoskeleton. It shows their moisture requirements for survival, but only in small amounts.
Accordingly, they look for some hiding locations in their territories during rain to protect their bodies from wetting problems, as wet bodies cannot hunt prey efficiently.
They find dry spots or shady places to avoid contact with rainwater. Some natural hideouts, like dense vegetation, are considered safe places to reach until rain stops.
They cannot fly during rain and prefer to stay on the ground surface, so they look for ground-level hiding.
It can cause flooding of the ground surface, so they prefer to remain away from the ground.
In addition, they can climb on the top of trees and reach the higher branches to seek refuge in disturbing climatic conditions. Tall grass, shrubs, or bushes can also provide good hiding spots.
Some overhanging structures on the buildings can also provide shelter to a praying mantis looking for a covered and safe area before or after rain.
Elevated surfaces or eaves of the building and many other structural features of the house can become suitable hiding areas for these tiny insects.
Moreover, their strong legs can provide strength to cling to vertical surfaces of the tree trunks or get inside the small grooves within the trunk region.
Larger rocks can also provide some dry surfaces to stay on during rain until the ground surfaces become dry and the weather suits their hunting practices.
Furthermore, they can get inside the buildings during rainstorms and reach safe corners in garages, patios, and other easily accessible areas of the house.
Why do praying mantis hide when it rains?
Praying mantises hide during rains or storms to avoid direct contact with water and wetting their bodies. They avoid exposure to excessive moisture as they need mild humid conditions.
It reduces the risk of exposure to moisture up to a maximum extent and protects them from attacks. Predators can efficiently kill them if their bodies are completely wet.
In addition, they can also protect their sensory organs by hiding, which can result in a loss of efficiency in detecting chemical signals and environmental changes due to water.
Moreover, they can resume their normal functioning after rain, as their antennae can perform well on dry surfaces. It is easier to detect secretions on dry floors than on flooded surfaces.
Sometimes, these opportunistic feeders come out in the rain when they see a prey animal, as this water forces underground insects to leave their nests due to flooding.
Can a praying mantis survive rain?
They are smart creatures adapted to change their behavior according to external conditions, which is considered essential for survival.
However, prolonged exposure can create problems for these insects and pose a challenge to survive during rainfall.
It is better to consider some factors affecting survival rate, including tolerance of moisture among different species of praying mantis.
Some species are adapted to survive in rainy weather and withstand wet environments, while others predict changes in the external environment and hide at suitable locations.
In addition, its intensity or duration also matters as they can tolerate intermittent or light pouring and temporarily shift to a new location if they do not feel comfortable.
However, it is a challenging time for some terrestrial mantises that live in a dry environment, so they prefer to hide for survival.
How does rain affect praying mantis behavior?
Many significant changes occur in praying mantis behavior during rain because they are afraid of wetting and feel discomfort, particularly in heavy storms.
Rainfall is associated with their movement patterns, hunting abilities, reproductive activities, body temperature, and many other physical or behavioral changes.
Reduced mobility
Praying mantis lose their mobility partially and prefer to remain stuck in one place when external conditions are not favorable for their survival.
They quickly move away from wet areas and reach dry or slightly humid places to avoid drying. They like humidity, but prolonged exposure to high humidity can be fatal.
Moreover, they remain at safe indoor locations or move under larger rocks or leaves until they find an external environment suitable for hunting prey.
Vulnerability to fungal infection
Excessive moisture on their exoskeleton makes them vulnerable to fungal infections. Fungi and mold usually grow in moist places, so the insect’s body can provide a platform for growth.
Commonly, a white powdery substance appears on their exoskeleton that can be fatal if it grows in an uncontrolled manner. So, they move to dry places to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
In addition, the damp and humid conditions increase their vulnerability to fungal or bacterial infections, requiring moisture for growth.
Disruption of reproductive activity
They cannot reproduce actively in the rain as they have to navigate territories to find a suitable mating partner. Commonly, they wait for pleasant weather to engage in the mating process.
There is a risk of death if they come out of their nests because other insects also leave their nests to avoid the risk of flooding.
In addition, their wings do not support flying behavior and restrict them from mating, disrupting reproductive activity among insects.
They do not look for a partner until the ground surface gets dry, and it becomes easier for them to hop and reach their partner.
Susceptibility to predation
They become more susceptible to predation during this season because their ability to fight and defend against predatory birds and animals is reduced.
Their wet wings do not allow them to capture the bodies of invaders or prey and bite on their bodies as their flying efficiency reduces.
They cannot quickly attack prey or predator due to excess moisture on their bodies, so their susceptibility to predation increases while the hunting rate decreases.
Alters body temperature
Praying mantises are ectothermic creatures, which means their body temperature alters with a changing external temperature as they cannot retain an ideal body temperature.
Accordingly, their internal temperatures lower during the rainy season and affect the rate of internal processes. They cannot survive for long with a disturbed body temperature and die.
So, they have to find stable microclimates to avoid wetting of bodies that can lead to changes in their internal temperature. It helps maintain the optimal temperature and their metabolic rate.
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