Uploaded by precarious333 on Sep 16, 2011
Between oothecas (egg cases) the female Idolomantis diabolica will try to fly to a new area to lay the next ooth. Such a large insect must warm up the muscles that drive the wings before attempting to take off, as you'll see in the video. They don't get very far due to their weight but in the wild they'd be climbing to the top of a large tree. Launch from that height would allow them to travel a more substantial distance. But in this scenario, since they have virtually no lift, it's only the thrust supplied by the wings pushing them a little further than they can jump. You'll also get a chance to see the habitat I setup by my window with a ficus tree and a vine leading to branches I have mounted above the window to satisfy their desire to climb as high as possible before flight. You may also notice ooths here and there on the ficus and other branches.