Sexing Cryptics

[Sarah K]

Hey guys,

This is my first time raising cryptics, and all of them molted to adulthood recently. I had 8 and I feel like somehow I managed to end up with ALL males, as they are all around the same size, and that size seems kind of small for any to actually be females, at least based on pictures I've found online. I am still doubting my ability to properly sex them though, partly because I WANT to be wrong, and partly because I cannot believe I would have such bad luck! It certainly seems against the odds that out of 8 mantises I would somehow wind up with all males. 

But mainly since it is my first time raising them,  I just want to make sure that there are not any other traits about this species that would suggest the difference in the sexes besides using the segment counting method, because to be honest, they are so small and active that it is nearly impossible for me to get them to stay still long enough to get a really good look at their abdomens anyhow!

 

[CosbyArt]

After some digging, if you are referring to the Sibylla pretiosa species their adult body length works to determine sex. Males tend to be only 1/2" long, and females are 2" or longer in size; although, some claim the size difference isn't that much between them. See here for some other methods, but they don't appear to be effective.

Seems the best method is of course segment counting, but if you can't see them that well (it can be hard). A good trick is to use a big magnifying glass, or with a good camera photograph them from below (mantids walking across clear plastic or glass) and then review the full size close-up photos to count segments.

Sadly I've had what you fear happen a few times myself with various mantid species, all of one sex. Hopefully though you find you have some males and females.

 

[Sarah K]

Thank you Thomas for responding to my question. I will see if I can get a photograph of one climbing across clear plastic or glass. I wish some of those methods mentioned in the UK forum link you sent me were more effective, as that would certainly help things!

 

[CosbyArt]

Your welcome Sarah. Besides the overall length and counting abdominal segments, their sex can also be determined by a clear photo/view of the tip of their abdomens (but that usually is just as tricky to photograph in focus). The only other method would be to wait awhile and watch their abdomens, as females will expand when they become gravid (mated or not of course) before laying ooths.