I sexed all of my mantids

[HungryGhost]

I sexed all of my mantids today. I have a nice mix of both sexes to breed all of my mantids but one. It looks like all 3 of my rhombodera stalli nymphs are male. I was looking forward to breeding the shields most of all. Maybe someone will have a trade down the road.

 

[Extrememantid]

You can't properly sex rhombodera stalii till L5 so just wait

 

[gripen]

You can't properly sex rhombodera stalii till L5 so just wait

No. You can sex them at L3.

 

[GhostYeahX]

L2 Female

L2male

 

[GhostYeahX]

sex difference can be seen at L2, however it is very hard to see without close up tools

actually you dont need macro lens to shot, just an extension tube ( 10$) is enough

 

[Extrememantid]

No. You can sex them at L3.

Well Playingmantis was told that by yen..

 

[HungryGhost]

We'll mine are L4 so I'll take another crack at it next molt.

 

[Extrememantid]

We'll mine are L4 so I'll take another crack at it next molt.

Mine should be molting to L5 in the next week or two so I'll let you know if there is any difference at L5

 

[HungryGhost]

Mine should be molting to L5 in the next week or two so I'll let you know if there is any difference at L5

Thanks!

 

[Extrememantid]

Thanks!

No problem.

 

[Termite48]

With a strong enough lens, there should be the ability to sex at L-2. There is not a significant change if any in the way the posterior segments look with the female being wider at the last segment. I am getting a 40 jeweler's loupe to help in this and my eyes cannot get enough from my 10x to do any good at L-2.

 

[HungryGhost]

With a strong enough lens, there should be the ability to sex at L-2. There is not a significant change if any in the way the posterior segments look with the female being wider at the last segment. I am getting a 40 jeweler's loupe to help in this and my eyes cannot get enough from my 10x to do any good at L-2.

I used a 10X loupe and they look male.

 

[PlayingMantis]

Interesting thread and photos. And I was told to wait until L5 - I suppose you could sex them earlier with the proper tools, but not with the naked eye...At L5 the last two segments should fuse together in females, so segment-counting should work then. I was worried I had all males, because I was trying to sex them at L3-4 by counting segments, and they all have 7-8 segments, which is strange because just probability-wise, they can't all be males.

Then again, if I had the proper tools, I'm sure I can sex them right now at L4, but my plain old eyes just aren't cutting it.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

The only young nymphs I can safely sex are Brunneria borealis. :tt2:

 

[HungryGhost]

The only young nymphs I can safely sex are Brunneria borealis. :tt2:

I could probably find a way to screw that one up too! : )

 

[Extrememantid]

The only young nymphs I can safely sex are Brunneria borealis. :tt2:

I could probably find a way to screw that one up too! : )

Lol :lol:

 

[Extrememantid]

It's much easier to sex them at L5 so just wait

 

[HungryGhost]

It's much easier to sex them at L5 so just wait

Thanks. These guys sure aren't timid about eating!

 

[Extrememantid]

Thanks. These guys sure aren't timid about eating!

Haha no they aren't..