Is chilvary dead?! The courtship!

[minomantis]

I was just curious if anyone has seen any courtship behaviors from their mantids. I raise only Chinese mantids and I've tried to breed my pair but they weren't ready. But I put the male infront of the female to see if there was a courtship behavior. I've read about behaviors but couldn't find anything on youtube or online besides the females call at night. I did see the male starting a "hey I'm a male not food" dance and it went on for about 40 mins. Once he started, NOTHING could break his focus! Literally nothing! Unfortunately, there was no mounting because my female wasn't ready but I'm just curious if anyone has seen any courtship behaviors with their mantids besides the female calling?

 

[happy1892]

I have not. I did not know Chinese Mantids do that. Was it not just a threat?

 

[minomantis]

It wasn't because instead of forelegs up, wings out, and abdomen curled, it was just the abdomen moving from side to side. It was clear that it was different.

 

[happy1892]

I have seen males do that. I thought it was just getting its wings ready to fly or getting ready to connect.

 

[lancaster1313]

I have noticed that some females will lay down their forelegs in a non-threatening position when they are receptive to a male and notice him.

 

[Precarious]

I have bred many species and never seen anything I could call courtship behavior in the sense that the male tries to impress the female. The male just creeps up on the female from behind and jumps on. Putting the male in front of the female just puts him in danger. I discourage you from doing it unless that's a lesson you need to learn firsthand.

 

[minomantis]

I'm very cautious of my mantids and I was watching their "body language" (mostly the females) like a hawk, so I was prepared for anything. I've just read about it online and was curious that's all. Both mantids survived so everything was ok. I probably wont do that again but it was interesting to see the male move around. And maybe it's not a courtship in that sense but it is something that I'm curious about.

 

[lancaster1313]

I have bred many species and never seen anything I could call courtship behavior in the sense that the male tries to impress the female. The male just creeps up on the female from behind and jumps on. Putting the male in front of the female just puts him in danger. I discourage you from doing it unless that's a lesson you need to learn firsthand.

Yeah. What he said.

My females have noticed the male behind them. Sometimes they whip their heads around to get a good look. It freaks me out every time and I end up blocking with my hand whether it is needed or not. :sweatdrop:

 

[lancaster1313]

I almost forgot about the couple of Carolina males that have gone up to the female, made a threat display, and smacked her in the head. Those females were receptive and didn't even flinch. The first time that happened, I put the mantids away sure that mating would not be successful. However, mating was successful for for one of the pairs after the male did the smack "test?".

 

[agent A]

I've had females grab males and then after a blur of motion he's on her back trying to connect

idk wat happens but I've seen it in creos, odontos, and hierodula

 

[Scruffy Aphid Herder]

My male mantids usually buy my females a drink of honeydew from the Aphid's bar and grill I built since 1999.. Try our new spicy fruit fly kabab or the crawler sampler..

 

[ScienceGirl]

Males want to be sneaky. The less the female sees of the male, the less she has to grab, and the higher the chance of the male surviving.