Significant progress was made now that I have started everything from a pure, continuous base mesh, slowly building up resolution once the form is good. Everything, minus the “spikes” for the raptorial legs and the lower-primary “mouth” flap, is one continuous mesh. A few things were chosen to be separate objects as I can parent those elements to a bone, rather than have the bone deform the object directly. Since the mantid needs to “express emotion”, the mandibles will have a simple bone chain to control each for posing. The same will go for the antennae….I’m very happy with how the mesh is turning out, especially as ridges and such are being sculpted in carefully.