Male orchid drumming

[DeShawn]

Here is a short quicktime video of a male orchid drumming on the females back before copulating. It was pretty funny. I only wish my cheapo camera had sound, as it is pretty loud.

http://www.mantiskingdom.com/movies/DSCN7819.MOV

Here is a pic of copulation.

The male remained on her back for a few days. The female didn't seem to have the slightest problem with him, as long as he was on her back and not in front of her! I did have a couple incidents with one of the females where the males wings were found at the bottom of the cage in the morning though :shock: :shock:

 

[Obie]

Wow! Good job DeShawn.

 

[Rick]

A lot of males of different species do that kind of thing.

 

[DeShawn]

Probably... but this is the only one I know of. I just wish I had a better camera.

 

[Rick]

In others it might not really be "drumming" but the males do rap on the females back with their front legs. I've seen it in tenedora, grandis, and lineola.

 

[DeShawn]

Ahh yea, and wahlbergii as well. That is what I figured the coronatus would do before I saw it for myself. But this is totally different. When those others do it, its just a tap, and often doesnt even seem deliberate. This is pretty loud... and they do it every 45 seconds or so for 5-10 minutes, and then every now and then afterwards. I didn't notice any of them doing it after they copulated though.

 

[Rick]

I just watched the vid and yeah thats the same thing the others I mentioned do. I'll have to get a vid of that too.