How often do male mantids eat as adults anyway?

[Nicolas]

My chinese mantid just had his final molt and his wings came in (molt went perfectly, wings are drying out as of this message!) and I want to know how feeding him will be. As some may know I had two chinese mantids to begin with but one perished due to a mismolt. With this in mind, he will not be mated, just live a normal life free from the stresses of mating with a female that would probably eat his head - but what I want to know is if his appetite will be as ridiculous as it was during the subadult phase. He literally ate anything I put in his den, so I want to know if the instincts of the mantis will change when it's adult from "EAT EVERYTHING" to "MATE AND TRY TO NOT DIE" ? 

 

[ausar318]

My males don’t accept food any more than once every two days, depending on the size of the prey. If it is a big grasshopper (the flying kind, if you know what I’m talking about) it is usually on every two days. If it is a big katydid, it is usually every three days, since there is a lot more “meat” on them.

to answer your question, no, they usually won’t eat as much as when they were subadults, but they might at times. Just as long as they are fed every three days, you should be good

 

[River Dane]

Different species, but I remember one of my male S. limbata only ate three meals a week. His mate, on the other hand, ate twice as much per feeding nearly everyday.

 

[Rick]

As much as he needs. It's not a question that can easily be answered. There are just too many variables. 

 

[minomantis]

In my experience, Chinese male mantids eat WAY less compared to when they were sub adults.  I think their focus shifts like you mentioned before to mating and then like Rick mentioned only eating as much as he needs.  Don't get me wrong, they are still pretty savage just like their female counterparts but eating is not their focus.  If a male picks up the scent of a female, forget about eating.  ALL the focus goes to pursuing the female.  Then a very interesting courting display will start to take place.  Whether the female accepts is a completely different question. lol.  Good luck!

 

[Mantis Lady]

What I have seen in my male mantids, that feeding them 1x per 3 days  sometimes  more days without food is enough. Female are bigger eaters. They almost grab anything what moves they see before their eyes.