Need looking into

Benayla · Mar 27, 2018

I bought a male Hierodula Membranacea for my female, NaruHina a while ago. But looking closely at them in the same cage, I'm not entirely sure of Duncan's gender. So here is a picture.

I got Duncan from Mantis Place, and was even told this insect was a male. But I just to be absolutely sure.

TheShadyMantid · Mar 28, 2018

Looks like it could be a female, however I can't quite tell, can you possibly get a clearer pic of the underside segments?

It also looks like this mantis is doing upside down pushups. Can you confirm this as well?

Krissim Klaw · Mar 28, 2018

Picture is pretty blurry, but the mantis looks nice and trim. If it is a girl she would put on weight fast with some feedings, but it sounds like you have already had the mantis long enough to rule that out. If this mantis was older/adult when you got it I can't see you having gotten the wrong one from Mantis Place as that isn't the sort of mistake Rebecca would make.

Benayla · Mar 28, 2018

Krissim Klaw said:
Picture is pretty blurry, but the mantis looks nice and trim. If it is a girl she would put on weight fast with some feedings, but it sounds like you have already had the mantis long enough to rule that out. If this mantis was older/adult when you got it I can't see you having gotten the wrong one from Mantis Place as that isn't the sort of mistake Rebecca would make.

Duncan was a sub adult when I got him. I thought my phone's camera was better than that, maybe I spray the cage too much....

Krissim Klaw · Mar 28, 2018

Benayla said:
Duncan was a sub adult when I got him. I thought my phone's camera was better than that, maybe I spray the cage too much....

Females get a noticeable ovipositor in their later instars. Adults should really be pretty easy to sex when you have both to compare. If you google sexing mantises you will likely find multiple sites Such as This One that have comparison photos.

I have to say even with the blurry picture, it looks to be a boy.