bugboymark
Well-known member
So everyone that has spent time on this forum, or raised mantises long enough, knows how the "Female always eats the head of the male during or after mating" thing is not nearly as prevalent as the myth implies. It happens, but in many species, it's REALLY rare. In fact, in the years I've spent with these things, I have never witnessed a female actually eating the head of a male while mating. Until this morning. Re-breeding a H. venosa female (2nd time) She's pretty well fed. I've only seen them eat the male if he's not mating with her but in the same enclosure for too long (an undesired consequence that probably happens to everyone on occasion...you can't watch them 24 hours a day!).
Anyhow, this morning...I put them in the enclosure together. He jumps on the female. Starts to mate. She acts disinterested. I feed her a cricket. I leave for an hour. I come back to this. It's kind of sad, I know. On the upside, she's getting bred again. He's mated a couple times. She's getting some good nutrition for egg production. And I still have a couple males. So I'm not too bummed. Just thought it was interested to finally see this happen. Wasn't expecting it I guess. Looks like he put up a fight too (with his raptorial still hanging onto hers).
Anyhow, this morning...I put them in the enclosure together. He jumps on the female. Starts to mate. She acts disinterested. I feed her a cricket. I leave for an hour. I come back to this. It's kind of sad, I know. On the upside, she's getting bred again. He's mated a couple times. She's getting some good nutrition for egg production. And I still have a couple males. So I'm not too bummed. Just thought it was interested to finally see this happen. Wasn't expecting it I guess. Looks like he put up a fight too (with his raptorial still hanging onto hers).
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