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Samarai In reply to ??? [2009-05-04 14:14:11 +0000 UTC]

I don't know about "cultured" mantis, but, in the wild, the female quite often dines on her mate.. sometimes during the actual mating (not sure if there is a concrete set of data, with percentages, but my guess is that it would probably be somewhere far above 50% of the time). In fact, I recall seeing something on Nat Geo once about a specific variety that actually bit off the head shortly after the initial coupling took place. Being an insectoid, of course, this had absolutely no effect on his continuing to mate with her, but did insure that he would be there for her to finish eating when he was done.

So, basically, it is not a myth.

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macrojunkie In reply to Samarai [2009-05-04 14:18:59 +0000 UTC]

it happens alot but only to certain species..the european mantis also know as a chinese mantis it happens al the time..remember in the wild food might be harder to find so if the female isnt full shes more likely to eat him..iv bred the chinese mantis and the female did not eat the male as she was well fed a few days before

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Samarai In reply to macrojunkie [2009-05-04 20:22:22 +0000 UTC]

Again with the apples and oranges. But, no matter. I DO like your photographs. Meant to tell you that before, actually, but got so caught up in the whole preying mantis deal, I sort of forgot.

A question, though. Do you breed them to sell to farmers/horticulturists, or just because you are fascinated by insectoids?

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AJGlass In reply to ??? [2009-03-20 01:52:10 +0000 UTC]

if the female is well fed theres no reason for the female to eat him

Since when have females ever needed a reason?

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Rain8a In reply to ??? [2009-03-15 01:33:24 +0000 UTC]

Oh I see, I always thought they did.
Thanks for clearly that up.
..again great picture!!

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