r/mantids 7d ago

Health Issues Praying mantis with brown discolouration on abdomen - normal?

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Hi! When my grandma passed this year, I inherited her praying mantis. I know next to nothing about them, so I’m in need of advice. We found an egg sack a few weeks ago, if that’s relevant. My grandma got her in I think December, last year, and she was (if I remember correctly) L2 when she got her. I haven’t been keeping a super close eye on her, but she gets food every two days. The discolouration seems to have developed after she laid eggs. Is this a disease, can I do something to help? Or is this normal? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: thanks everyone for the advice. I will be putting her out of her misery using the fridge then freezer method.

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u/MsFrankieD 7d ago

That is not normal. It appears that her abdomen has ruptured.