Sexing Chinese Mantis?

[hutch2828]

Hey all.

A bunch of friends and I have had some Tenodera Sinensis for a while and I was wondering if you guys know how to determine the sex of them. I've heard that females have 6 segments and males have 7 or 8. But They're all at L4 and its a little hard to tell how to count and tell how many there are especially since they're still a little small.

Any other little tips you guys have or different ways of telling the males and females apart?

Thanks

 

[Myrmecologist2]

As far as I know, counting the segments is the best way to sex most mantids. I believe it is 6-7 segments for females and 8 for males. Try fattening them up with food, with an expanded abdomen, and maybe with the help of a magnifying glass, it will be easy to count the segments.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

6=female, 8 can look like 7 sometimes which is male, they are notoriously hard to sex that young, a few more molts will clear up the mystery, males stay thin and long for their size, females will be larger and fatten up.

 

[crucis]

oh yes, don't forget to count from the bottom, not from the top Or you may end up with a number like... 10.

 

[Rick]

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7110

 

[angelofdeathzz]

http://mantidforum.n...?showtopic=7110

Thanks Rick. those very valuable shots but there late instar pics, these are L4, trying to guess early on? Harder to do ...

 

[Rick]

Not it isn't. Same still applies. You might need a magnifying glass or something is all.