pheromone
- Thread starter Fisherman_Brazil
- Start date
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just thought i would show some low quality (if i move the mantids to get a beter photo or open their container they stop calling so i can only get quite por shots. but they show the position i guess. the acromantis female was mated and was fertile, but has now laid four ootheca. the paradoxa female has not been mated yet, but will be soon.
kamakiri
Well-known member
I've seen the 'calling' pose from an 'old' religiosa female after laying 4 or 5 ooths.
Surface testing prior to laying that I've seen always involved touching of the surface in multiple places and significant movement involving stepping or walking.
I have witnessed the calling just recently from several of my Gambian Spotted-Eye females at dusk. While I normally use two lamps in the bug room to provide heat and light, now that we are well into spring I have been leaving them off more frequently. While I have not noticed the calling behavior when turning off the lights and checking in darkness, I have noticed the calling after I let dusk settle in naturally.
Yesterday, I introduced two males to two separately housed females. One pair in a 32 oz pot, and the other pair in a 24 oz. I had the lights on and turned them off shortly after dark. Checked in on them several times later last night and didn't see anything happening...calling or mating. I was surprised since both females were calling the evening before.
Today, I made sure to turn off the lights while still bright out at approximately 5 PM. Checked shortly after sunset and both pairs were mounted. Now, a couple hours later at 9 PM, one pair is connected.
I believe the light conditions of the setting sun at dusk may trigger the calling (of course along with other maturity and fertility factors) in Pseudoharpax virescens.
Perhaps those that have not witnessed calling, do not have the natural light conditions that may be required for some species.
I completely agree that calling should not be used as a simple indicator of infertility.
I hope that may help any GS-E keepers trying to breed their mantises in the future!
Surface testing prior to laying that I've seen always involved touching of the surface in multiple places and significant movement involving stepping or walking.
I have witnessed the calling just recently from several of my Gambian Spotted-Eye females at dusk. While I normally use two lamps in the bug room to provide heat and light, now that we are well into spring I have been leaving them off more frequently. While I have not noticed the calling behavior when turning off the lights and checking in darkness, I have noticed the calling after I let dusk settle in naturally.
Yesterday, I introduced two males to two separately housed females. One pair in a 32 oz pot, and the other pair in a 24 oz. I had the lights on and turned them off shortly after dark. Checked in on them several times later last night and didn't see anything happening...calling or mating. I was surprised since both females were calling the evening before.
Today, I made sure to turn off the lights while still bright out at approximately 5 PM. Checked shortly after sunset and both pairs were mounted. Now, a couple hours later at 9 PM, one pair is connected.
I believe the light conditions of the setting sun at dusk may trigger the calling (of course along with other maturity and fertility factors) in Pseudoharpax virescens.
Perhaps those that have not witnessed calling, do not have the natural light conditions that may be required for some species.
I completely agree that calling should not be used as a simple indicator of infertility.
I hope that may help any GS-E keepers trying to breed their mantises in the future!
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
This thread was started some time before I joined the forum, and I claim no more than a cursory knowledge of the topic, though I have seen what may have been this behaviour in a female S. limbata at dusk. Two members, though, mentioned references in the literature, and anyone with Prete's volume can see a pic (first of the color illustrations) of A. falcata "calling" as well as several references to this topic in the text.
