Spermatophore Ejected...Now What?

[GreenOasis]

This is a new one for me. If it's happened before in my collection, I haven't noticed it.

I mated my multispina female yesterday...aside from eating her mate overnight, everything seemed well with her. I never saw her pull this thing out, but she may have...or may have ejected it via other ways (I won't go into detail.)

But I am left to wonder...is she fertilized? Can anyone tell by looking at the pic if it's "material" has been used? I really would hate to assume that she is and try to incubate infertile oothecae.

Thanks!

 

[PhilinYuma]

Great pic, but you must have missed this thread from last month: http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=20436&st=0

Try posts #12 and #13.

 

[Ntsees]

Chances are your female is still fertilized. The way I see it, a male deposits his sperm first and any remaining sperm will go into the spermatophore.

 

[GreenOasis]

So, she just didn't want his "leftovers"? :huh:

 

[Ntsees]

So, she just didn't want his "leftovers"? :huh:

I'm sure she took whatever she can hold. Regarding the spermatophore, no females keep it for long. It will always be discarded eventually. Think of it like a briefcase full of money. She took whatever money she can hold and threw away the briefcase (even if there's still a little money left).

 

[Rick]

All is normal. Your female is fertile now.

 

[GreenOasis]

Awesome!

 

[sporeworld]

I'm sure she took whatever she can hold. Regarding the spermatophore, no females keep it for long. It will always be discarded eventually. Think of it like a briefcase full of money. She took whatever money she can hold and threw away the briefcase (even if there's still a little money left).

Man, what a metaphor!

 

[crucis]

Hahaha mine didnt discard the briefcase.. Oh no, she had to eat it

Sure looked like it tasted good

 

[PhilinYuma]

Somehow I missed the posts that suggest that the ejected spermatophore contains "left over" sperm. It isn't likely to be true since the mantis female, like females of a number of other insect orders, can retain the sperm from consecutively introduced spermatophores in multiple matings. The whole idea behind remating females after they have produced one or more fertile ooths is to "top up' the sperm supply.

 

[kmsgameboy]

She took whatever money she can hold and threw away the briefcase (even if there's still a little money left).

Best metaphor ever!