Adult Male Violin Mantis - Fresh Molt

Male Gongylus gongylodes molts into adult. You can see the skin he left behind still attached to the screen. Notice that he either fell and grabbed onto the leaf or he stepped from the old skin onto the leaf. Either way this is a good example of why your enclosure should have something other than just a screen for a mantid to grasp. Best to have something between the lid and the floor in case they fall or require a lower perch while molting - especially for larger species. Pretty funny the way he wags hit