supposed to be male and female P wahlbergi

[sschind]

I sexed these two just prior to their adult molt by counting the spikes on the abdomen and I came up with a female (first picture) and a male (2nd picture) now that they are both adults they look the same to me (females?) Am I right? Are they both females? I'm going by the fact I can see the spikes of the abdomen outside of the wings and the fact that they are both about the same size (around 4 cm). If so what should I look for when the last two molt. They looked like 1 male and 1 female as well using the spike method. Neither of these two have eaten since their adult molt.

These are my first adult mantids so I am pretty new at it.

Thanks

Steve

 

[happy1892]

Hmm.. I do not know how to sex Pseudocreobotra. Males have their abdomens poking out to their sides here in this photo:

http://usamantis.com/PWvsPO.html

If there is a female in those two pictures I would guess the bottom picture is the female because the bottom one has spikes on the sides of it's abdomen that are more rounded instead of sharp. But because they both have more reddish colored antennae and their kind of narrower wings it makes them look like males. As I said I do not really know how to sex these. But someone else here should be able to help you out.

 

[sschind]

Hmm.. I do not know how to sex Pseudocreobotra. Males have their abdomens poking out to their sides here in this photo:

http://usamantis.com/PWvsPO.html

If there is a female in those two pictures I would guess the bottom picture is the female because the bottom one has spikes on the sides of it's abdomen that are more rounded instead of sharp. But because they both have more reddish colored antennae and their kind of narrower wings it makes them look like males. As I said I do not really know how to sex these. But someone else here should be able to help you out.

Thanks for the input. As far as how far the spikes are sticking out the top one molted about a week before the bottom one and hadn't eaten anything yet (ate this morning) so that might have something to do with it.

I read where you can see the females abdomen from above and I did see that picture but I didn't realize it was so obvious. I can also see the spikes on the male. I think I may change my mind as it looks like its a lot more obvious on the females. Either way, they look pretty much the same to me.

I guess I'll just wait for the last two to molt and hope one is a lot smaller and noticeably different. It shouldn't be too long.

 

[happy1892]

As far as how far the spikes are sticking out the top one molted about a week before the bottom one and hadn't eaten anything yet (ate this morning) so that might have something to do with it.

Yeah, that is probably it.

Yes, good luck with breeding this species. It is very hard for me to tell which are male and female in your photos.

Edit: Oh, and if you post pictures of the underneath part of their abdomens I might be able to sex them. Is this species as adult hard to sex by looking at it's abdomen tip?

 

[Bloodtkr]

Had a wahlbergii molt to adult a few weeks ago ..no idea which sex but it didnt eat for days afterwords but now it does fine

 

[sschind]

Yeah, that is probably it.

Yes, good luck with breeding this species. It is very hard for me to tell which are male and female in your photos.

Edit: Oh, and if you post pictures of the underneath part of their abdomens I might be able to sex them. Is this species as adult hard to sex by looking at it's abdomen tip?

Had a wahlbergii molt to adult a few weeks ago ..no idea which sex but it didnt eat for days afterwords but now it does fine

Thanks for that. i was worried for a while.

Have 3 total adults,look like 3 males. I'm holding out hope for the last one because it is not showing the same wing buds as the others did just prior to molting. I'll just have to feed "her" heavily so she catches up.

 

[Bloodtkr]

Good luck ; )