Life span question

Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Shop deals on ebay
Mantidforum

Help Support Mantidforum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
AmandaLynn said:
How long do Giant asian females typically live as adults?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that there is a "typical time" for these guys. I remember that around last June (is that about right, Katt?), I had two females that promptly died as soon as they were ready to mate,. The third killed my males, one after another in the defense of her virginity and lived on in solitary, mean spirited splendor until the second week of February. I had gone away for a week and left her several roaches to keep her company. In my absence, she must have gobbled them down, laid her only infertile ooth and, her life's ambition accomplished, kicked the bucket.

 
I hope forever... but that's impossible, so I'm betting on about a year on average.

How about males? I hope a year for them too.

 
I've never really kept track of average lifespan lengths of different species. Maybe those who have, and have a better memory than me
rolleyes.gif
, will chime in. ;)

 
AmandaLynn said:
OK, thanks! So if all goes well they can live up to about 8 months as adults. What about males, do they live that long as well?
Click to expand...
You MIGHT get a year as the total life span. Probably take at least three months to reach adult. However, many factors are involved. Males will not live as long typically.

 
Rick said:
You MIGHT get a year as the total life span. Probably take at least three months to reach adult. However, many factors are involved. Males will not live as long typically.
Click to expand...
I've had four of my Giant Asians since November 3rd. Back then they were L2, they are now all L8 and it has been four whole months (November, December, January and February) of pure mantis joy! ^_^

 
Not to put words in Phil's mouth, but I think he was saying that males are not expected to live that long, which Rick stated as well. Males of any mantid species are almost exclusively shorter-lived than their female counterparts.

 
AmandaLynn said:
No? Phil are you trying to confuse me? Hierodula says 6-8 months and Rick says maybe a year overall from the time they hatch. Do you disagree? Please elaborate. :)
Click to expand...
Sorry AmandaLynn. See what happens when I try to be terse? I should have highlighted the last part of your question. Males do not live as long as females. The reason for this appears to be that after he has fertilized a female, or the last of several, the male has completed his function, whereas the female has to lay her eggs before she shuffles off this mortal coil.

 
PhilinYuma said:
Sorry AmandaLynn. See what happens when I try to be terse? I should have highlighted the last part of your question. Males do not live as long as females. The reason for this appears to be that after he has fertilized a female, or the last of several, the male has completed his function, whereas the female has to lay her eggs before she shuffles off this mortal coil.
Click to expand...
What if the male never mates? Would that extend his life span? Or won't it affect it?

 
I don't know if any studies have been done regarding life-span vs. mating in mantids, so it's probably impossible to give a definitive answer on that. You'd be hard pressed to get even an educated guess.

 

Latest posts

Top