mantis coitus interruptus

[jday]

It's our first time. The lad and I, with great fear and trepidation, brought a wild-caught, bloated female and captive-raised male together (both Chinese) and after a little prodding, they mated. [bTW, his hind end got stuck during his final molt, and I was worried that his anatomy had been rendered useless, but that was apparently not the case.] So, after a couple of hours, the Z-man says "They're done!" and, sure enough, they were disengaged at the abdomen. However, we couldn't separate them. For several hours, he just hung on her back in post-coital repose. ("It's just like humans" my seven-year-old said, and I hoped he was just referring to the act of snuggling?!?) Every hour or so, I'd try to coax him away, but he just hung on to her. Then, after about five hours, I checked on them and they were mating again and still are.

I wanted to share our story, but I also wondered how common this is. I know that matings can take a long time, but how common is it for mantids to mate, take a break, snuggle a bit, and then mate again?

Also, I'm wondering how a feller manages to go to sleep at night while mating mantises are looming nearby on his bedroom curtains.

 

[guapoalto049]

It really is best to not interrupt mantids during mating. I have had Chinese males take many hours to transfer their spermatophore to the female. I am not sure of the reasons why it can take 15 minutes or 36 hours (yes, I've had Chinese intermittently breed this long), but they really should be left alone during this delicate time.

 

[Rick]

This didn't belong in the breeder feedback section so I moved it.

 

[MantidLord]

To answer your question. Yes, they do often sit ontop for long periods without doing anything. Sometimes if I get impatient, I either mist them with water, or blow on them. Eventually (hopefully) the male will copulate and he may take a "break".

 

[hibiscusmile]

Hah! sounds nomal to me!