I'm just going on what I've seen keeping dubias. You normally see this when you pick the up holding them tight (or your crushing their heads). The "drool" seems to be used to try and free them as it's slick/slippery. It might also have something in it that tastes bad to some animals (I don't know, I haven't tried it myself) but I've never seen any of my Ts have an issue with it.
It's a defense mechanism, I think they use this as a last resort to try and ward off attacking predators. Many insects will "vomit" an acidic substance from their mouths, I think it's supposed to taste and smell bad, basically a deterrent of some sort.
It tastes absolutely horrible.
Sounds like someone took the hit for science. Good job man.
That sounds like a story that needs sharing lol.
Yes this happens quite often, it's more noticeable with larger specimen this doesn't seem to bother my T's though, they just get on and attack the little bar stewards, no need to be concerned, it is a defence mechanism, but it doesn't work with my spiders.
Yuck....try my lollipop next time....LOL
Why do you know how it tastes!?
Because all of this speculation was resolved in about thirty seconds on my end. For science.Why do you know how it tastes!?
You have dubias who are eating their dead? That's odd... none of mine do that unless they are really desperate for food. But I also have a cleaner crew so it never gets really bad. And they will never touch anyone whose sick/rotting.
I'm the other way around. My smallest nymphs love feeding on the dead of their larger counterparts - and they have food available 24/7 as well as a cleanup crew. In fact, I often say that large dubia colonies are actually less work than small ones simply because the nymphs serve as a cleanup crew themselves.
I don't actually know. I just assumed that's what caused it.
