Don't waste it, let me taste it

[patrickfraser]

I had a pair of lineolas connect last night and were connected throughout the day, today. I looked in a while ago to find the male had made a safe getaway and the female was ejecting the spermataphore. I decided to take a pic of it. She started to flick at it with her back leg, it stuck to her leg, and she brought it forward and proceeded to eat it. From the amount of connection time and visual on the spermataphore, I'd say it's a "good one". Here's some pics, since I had the camera handy.

 

[CoolMantid]

Uhhhh.................... nevermind

 

[angelofdeathzz]

This ones so easy I'm not going to even touch it!!!(kids are reading) wait there is that beer commercial "tastes great, less filling" some pun intended.

 

[CoolMantid]

If there is extra they get rid of it. But normal mantids dont EAt it, take her to some mantis therapist

 

[patrickfraser]

I think it happens a lot. Proper ladies are never seen performing such an act. Let alone allow themselves to be photographed. Ask Dr. Ruth. :lol:

 

[lunarstorm]

Such a coy look on her face.

 

[Rick]

I've seen this behavior. Not letting such a thing go to waste just makes sense evolutionarily speaking.

 

[hibiscusmile]

yea, what's the idea of eating guts and things, this is no diff, gee thanks for bringing it to our attention :shifty: :devil: :tt2:

 

[twolfe]

Interesting. That's all I'm gonna say.

 

[Termite48]

I am glad that I had breakfast an hour ago. This is just gross. But then again, mama dogs when they want will eat the afterbirth once they have the chance.

After whelping a few litters, this is really "light weight" stuff.

 

[Precarious]

Good catch!

Someone contacted me a while back about witnessing this and asking what it may have been, since they didn't know about the spermatophore. Turns out this is a pretty common practice but not often observed. I've spotted and removed spermatophore still attached or stuck to the female so I could get photos. Next time I'll leave it attached and watch what happens to it.

Here's one still attached to an Oxyopsis gracilis...

 

[mkayum]

oh dear! That happened to my past chinese female! I never got a chance to take picture of this strange behavior.

 

[agent A]

I see creobroter do that all the time

 

[dlemmings]

Its like she ws sending a message...

"you may have escaped my clutches...but your spawn shall suffer for this outrage!!!!"

 

[Mvalenz]

Wild behavior.

 

[patrickfraser]

This ones so easy I'm not going to even touch it!!!(kids are reading) wait there is that beer commercial "tastes great, less filling" some pun intended.

I got one. How about "Good to the last drop"?

 

[MantidLord]

Unexpected nuptial gift! That's awesome! Looks like the male did his job then.

 

[Rick]

Wild behavior.

Not really. Some mammals eat the placenta. Why let a source of nutrition go to waste? With mammals part of it may be to try and hide the birth from predators but you get my point.

 

[ismart]

Taste like coookie? :lol:

Witnessed this many times!