Pregnancy Question

[Gizmo]

My girlfriend found a Mantis religiosa on August 22nd and took her home. She was skinny and could fly, so for a time I started to second guess that she was a she despite the segment count being that of a female.

Eventually she got very plump, and this weekend (about 45 days later) she laid an ootheca.

Is it still possible she mated and this is fertile? We've had females that laid fertile oothecas, and one that never mated that laid 1-1/2 but the unfertile ooth was uneven and small. This one is very robust and even and has us thinking she may have mated before we got her.

Is this wishful thinking on our part, or is there still a chance for babies?

 

[Synapze]

The only way to tell is to give 

Is this wishful thinking on our part, or is there still a chance for babies?

Absolutely not. Keep the ooths and follow the ooth care guidelines for this species and you may get a surprise.

We found a Carolina one year and kept her ooths. After a diapause every ooth hatched. 

Good luck! 

 

[Gizmo]

yay thank you! I love her so much and this has me excited! I don't want to think about what comes next for her so this will soften the blow somewhat.

Thank you again!!

 

[Synapze]

You're welcome. Here are 2 links you may find helpful. 

Species info 

https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/species/european-mantis/

Ooth care

https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/caring-for-mantis-eggs/

 

[Gizmo]

In the past we have raised two ooths, one Chinese and one European. We plan on taking the top of her terrarium off, putting it in a bag, and putting it in the fridge until Spring. One was a gift from coworkers and the other was from the first mantis we ever had.  

It's just that I've read so many sources that say they lay their ooths after about 2 weeks after mating that I was unsure that her's was fertile after almost two months. I don't see anything anywhere that says they can stay pregnant that long.

 

[MantisGirl13]

It's just that I've read so many sources that say they lay their ooths after about 2 weeks after mating that I was unsure that her's was fertile after almost two months. I don't see anything anywhere that says they can stay pregnant that long.

If they have mated once, they should be fertile for the rest of their life. Also, larger mantids like this species take much longer to lay their ooths than smaller species such as flower mantids. 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Gizmo]

Now I've got tears in my eyes I'm so happy! Thanks MantisGirl13!

I'm still going to cry like a baby when we lose her but I'm also going to do my best to make sure her legacy carries on. She's definitely a lot more active and in a better temperament now that she is so much lighter.