Curious Question

[minomantis]

We know how females will bring in males when they are ready to breed, but do you think other females will follow a pheromone trail in hopes to confront (eat) another calling female? I'm going to have 4 adult females soon and I want to be able to put them on house plants, but am curious that when the time comes, will they go after each other even if they aren't near one another. Granted, they won't really be hungry, but just curious.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Don't do it. They'll find a way to eat each other.

 

[Sticky]

Great question! I havent had much trouble, although I dont leave them on the same plant or same branches for long.

 

[Ranitomeya]

I doubt females will actively search others out unless they were extremely desperate for food or are forced to fight over one optimal place to hang around.

Every female, assuming they're the same species, is as likely to inflict mortal wounds as another, so you can expect them to have evolved out of potentially searching out their own demise. It's just not a good strategy when they can simply hunt for non-lethal prey.

The problem with allowing mantises to free-range inside your room is that most females will search out the optimal place to perch and wait for prey--that means they'll all be heading for the same tall, brightly-lit spot unless your room has a good number of spots placed apart from each other all with great lighting and height.

 

[Rick]

That is an interesting question but I don't think it would make sense for an adult female to seek out and attempt to eat another. The risk would likely be too great. A wounded mantis would probably not be able to effectively find food and would end up dying.

That is not to say that they wouldn't take advantage of a unique opportunity. I once found an adult female Tenodera sp eating another adult female. As best as I can tell the second female was in the process of making an ooth when she was grabbed by the other female.