Gestation period?

[tlasorsa]

I have a female chinese mantis that successfully mated 9 days ago. How long does it typically take before a female will produce an ooth after mating? Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Rick]

Mating has no bearing on when an ooth will be laid. It is best to go from the time she became an adult. Times can vary though based on temperatures, amount of food, etc. I don't really keep track, but I would start expecting an ooth starting at least a month out from the time she molted last.

 

[Dirtmonkey]

Hey thanks for this reply Rick- I'm more hopeful that my wild caught female was already mated, as you suggested in my introduction post... Would this timing likely apply to M. religiosa as well? (I did do some homework, but most sources online seemed to focus on how quickly laying could happen, not how much longer it might take)

 

[hibiscusmile]

No time limit on that either, she will lay when the time is right, usually they are pretty fat before that happens.

 

[Dirtmonkey]

Ah good. Still crossing fingers after about a month after collection, no males (or any other mantids) found yet. Our summer was cold, so maybe she was still young.