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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rick" data-source="post: 7431" data-attributes="member: 13"><p>I personaly don't count segments on adult mantids.  I can tell the sex as soon as I glance at them.  If your mantids have wings they are adults and the females will be much bulkier.  Maybe not longer but just bigger overall.  The females abdomen will be larger and much wider however the males will be long and thin with a upturned scoop type deal on the end.  Males usually have longer antenna (sp?) too.  Course we don't know what species you have but this applies to most.  Obviously you have to keep them seperate.  I personaly will mate large to medium size species loose in the room.  That way the male can have all the room he needs to escape.  However if you have a large tank you can mate them in there as well.  Usually to initiate mating I will put the male somewhere on a flat surface and let him  settle down.  Then I place the female several inches in front of him and make sure she walks away from him.  If he is ready he will jump on her.  Sometimes the male jumps on backwards but will usually turn around.  Older males initiate much quicker than young males.  If the female is ready she won't get to aggressive.  If she goes crazy when he jumps on then you should wait a while longer and try again.</p></blockquote><p></p>