Some interesting mantis behavior

Yesterday I was cleaning my mantises and I noticed some strange behavior. When I stuck my finger into the cup to gently scoop a mantis out, it ducked it's little head down and flattened its body to keep me from touching it- this reminded me of a puppy ducking down in submission. I have never seen anything like this before. If anyone out there has any advice as to what it could mean, I'm all ears.