Help My Miomantis binotata adult male won't mate

[happy1892]

Hi! I need a little help. My male Miomantis even though he has been adult for over 3 weeks is not mating with the females that have been adult for over three weeks. One female has already laid an ootheca without mating. I attempted mating in warm conditions in a net cage (I left them alone for a few hours) and in deli containers (only for a short time.) and the male showed no interest. How hard is it to breed this species? I am keeping two sub-adult males warm now so that they will molt to adult in a day to a few days. Any help is very much appreciated!

 

[Sticky]

Pheromone overload?

 

[happy1892]

Pheromone overload?

I kept them apart in another part of the house.

 

[mantiseater]

i make her move around in front of him so he pays attention to her.

 

[happy1892]

i make her move around in front of him so he pays attention to her.

I cannot get him too, even though I've tried several times. He is just weirdly not interested. I think the other males I have will act differently and mate, but I still worry whether I will be able to breed these guys.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Are the females actively calling when you introduced him? Also has he been showing any signs of readiness by roaming/fluttering around his cage at night?

Some males can be rather timid when there is movement and are easily distracted by us humans lumbering around trying to play match maker. I know the feeling of wanting to keep your boy from getting munched, but our presence can easily become a hindrance for the more timid ones. I usually like to wait till late at night (12am-3am) when the girls tend to start calling. If he is still showing zero interest I would probably remove him for a few more days in a separate room. If you aren't too attached you can also leave him overnight in a nice size cage with a well fed girl. Just introduce her so he knows she is there and give nature a chance to work its magic.

From what I have heard this species is typically very easy to breed so I wouldn't stress, especially if you have back up males on the way.

 

[happy1892]

Thank you for the information Krissim Klaw. I have not seen the females calling actually. I am leaving the male alone for a few days before trying again to mate a female with him. One of my sub-adult males looks like he is going to molt tonight or tomorrow.

 

[happy1892]

Oh, and no, I have not seen the male flying around much.

 

[happy1892]

Is it normal for Miomantis binotata adult males to show little interest or not mate?

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Is it normal for Miomantis binotata adult males to show little interest or not mate?

Are you still having trouble getting yours to pair up?

 

[happy1892]

Are you still having trouble getting yours to pair up?

Yes, not much has changed. Strange, right? Maybe it is because they are siblings? I do not know if they are siblings though.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Yes, not much has changed. Strange, right? Maybe it is because they are siblings? I do not know if they are siblings though.

Strange indeed, they are usually a prolific species, and even if they are siblings it shouldn't matter. I know you mentioned having multiples, have you had any successful pairings?

 

[happy1892]

I had two males die (the second to turn to adult died of probably starvation because I forgot to feed him and the third male to turn to adult died from mis-molt while molting to adult). So I still have just that one adult male. The other three males that I have left might be different, but they have not turned adult yet and are still sub-adults.

 

[happy1892]

The fourth male to molt to adult mis-molted today. I feel horrible/miserable. I gave him water to drink two days before and every few days before that, but still mis-molted. I will mist their container a little heavier so that it will be more humid. I had two other females mis-molt to adult just recently, too.

Actually the ones that mis-molted are all the ones that had been misted two days before they mis-molted. The others that molted alright were misted very little.

 

[MantidBro]

The fourth male to molt to adult mis-molted today. I feel horrible/miserable. I gave him water to drink two days before and every few days before that, but still mis-molted. I will mist their container a little heavier so that it will be more humid. I had two other females mis-molt to adult just recently, too.

Actually the ones that mis-molted are all the ones that had been misted two days before they mis-molted. The others that molted alright were misted very little.

My male Tenodera for years would not mate with my females. Even if they jumped on, theyd jump back off. My friend later informed me that siblings of the species wont mate with each other. I later found a wild male and he bred with all my females AND my friends female lol. It could very well be because they are siblings. But if thats not the case. Just make sure its hot. And face a fan in their direction or blow on them, particularly the female. Like she who said above, they become interested when they see the female move.

Im sorry to hear of all your mismolts. What do you use as a molting surface?

 

[happy1892]

My male Tenodera for years would not mate with my females. Even if they jumped on, theyd jump back off. My friend later informed me that siblings of the species wont mate with each other. I later found a wild male and he bred with all my females AND my friends female lol. It could very well be because they are siblings. But if thats not the case. Just make sure its hot. And face a fan in their direction or blow on them, particularly the female. Like she who said above, they become interested when they see the female move.

Im sorry to hear of all your mismolts. What do you use as a molting surface?

The molting surfaces were fabric lids and bark. I think it is likely that my Miomantis binotata are at least very closely related (I have to ask to person who gave them to me.).

Yes, I used a fan and heated a closet a few times when attempting to mate them, but I stopped that because it might be a tad bit too extreme because it is already warm in the closet that gets sunlight during the day and the wind might make them dry out too much.

I will see if I can get a male from somebody else or trade my male and a female for another person's.

 

[MantidBro]

The molting surfaces were fabric lids and bark. I think it is likely that my Miomantis binotata are at least very closely related (I have to ask to person who gave them to me.).

Yes, I used a fan and heated a closet a few times when attempting to mate them, but I stopped that because it might be a tad bit too extreme because it is already warm in the closet that gets sunlight during the day and the wind might make them dry out too much.

I will see if I can get a male from somebody else or trade my male and a female for another person's.

What kind of fabric lids? Like cloth? Bark sometimes works but there is a risk if its not very rough. id recommend using netting. Or screen, like from a window. What caused the mismolts, falling? or were they still hanging but just didnt continue to molt (was too dry)?

That might work!

 

[happy1892]

What kind of fabric lids? Like cloth? Bark sometimes works but there is a risk if its not very rough. id recommend using netting. Or screen, like from a window. What caused the mismolts, falling? or were they still hanging but just didnt continue to molt (was too dry)?

That might work!

It was fabric mesh. The bark (Oak or Liquidambar styraciflua bark?) I use tends to be better than netting. I do not think the mis-molt was caused by falling, though two did fall, I think it was just because they were already struggling to molt and already mismolted before falling.

I am uncertain if the conditions were too dry or too moist, and that is the problem. lol

Thank you for the help by the way.

 

[MantidBro]

It was fabric mesh. The bark (Oak or Liquidambar styraciflua bark?) I use tends to be better than netting. I do not think the mis-molt was caused by falling, though two did fall, I think it was just because they were already struggling to molt and already mismolted before falling.

I am uncertain if the conditions were too dry or too moist, and that is the problem. lol

Thank you for the help by the way.

I've dealt with mismolts, it's the worst. Oh no, nothing's better than netting! LOL! No JK, whatever works for you. But netting and screen is my favorite, I've never had an issue with either. I've had a couple fall when using sticks/bark. Fortunately I was able to save the second because I'd been watching him... once he fell, I held him by his feet and he molted from my fingers! Lol

To be honest, I don't think they'd have fallen even is they mismolted while hanging. Like with nymphs, when mismolting due to dryness, they're still hanging there, but aren't able to slide out of the skin. I think if having fallen, that means that their exoskeleton wasn't able to carry their weight. It's a very scary time. Think about it, an exoskeleton, freakin' shed skin, keeping you up, by only 4 feet... 2 tiny tiny hooks on each foot.

You're welcome, I hope my info helps! I'd like to help anybody I can with mismolts.