On Sexing Mantises

[GreenOasis]

So...going by segment counts...it would seem that in most species, the females have 5-6 abdominal segments and males have 7-8. Are there ANY species of mantids that this is NOT true for? (Particularly any in my sig line???)

Please don't be shy in responding, no matter your level of expertise...I want to know everyone's opinion!

Has anyone out there had a mantis with 6-7 segments (where it's hard to be sure either way)? Or better yet, has anyone counted one way on a subadult, who molted out to be the opposite sex on adulthood?

THANKS!

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

All 3 of my female mantids have 6 segments. The 2 ghost males and the Gonatista male (Who passed away ) have 7.

 

[GreenOasis]

And what type of females do you have??

 

[Rick]

Females have six, no more no less. This is true for all species. On some exotic species there are other ways to tell. But you shouldn't worry about that just yet. Sexing adults is very simple. Most people should be able to sex an adult mantis with just a glance, there generally is no need to count segments on adults.