Unfertilized Ghost Ootheca

[mmcguffi]

Hey guys I just noticed my female ghost mantis laid an ootheca, but my male is still a sub adult (...actually I couldnt find him today so maybe she ate him? I saw him 2 days ago).

My question is, is this ooth viable? Do ghost mantids undergo parthenogenesis, or is it just a dud ooth?

 

[Sarah K]

Definitely not fertilized. Ghost mantids don't undergo parthenogenesis. Females will lay ooths every week or so throughout their adult lives. Hopefully your male will molt to adulthood soon, and her next ooths will be fertilized! Best of luck!

 

[CosbyArt]

The chance of a unbred Ghost (Phyllocrania paradoxa) female having a parthenogenesis ooth is virtually zero. You can try incubating it, but your just be wasting time, it is a dud.

Regarding parthenogenesis the two most common mantid species that are successful at it, as listed by scientific papers, and by mantid keepers, are Brunner's Mantis (Brunneria borealis) and the Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria).

Given certain circumstances and conditions it is thought other mantid species have a extremely small chance to produce a ooth that will hatch via parthenogenesis too; however, the chance appears so low it is virtually non-existent even in a huge number (thousands) of affected wild females mantids (let alone just a couple kept by a hobbyist keeper).

From the many hours of searching through various scientific research papers, and related articles, I put together this list of species that have scientifically confirmed parthenogenesis.

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High Parthenogenesis
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Brunner's Mantis or Brunner's Stick Mantis (Brunneria borealis) -- No males exist
 
 
Common Parthenogenesis
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Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria) - Ooths can also spread hatches to two seasons/years
 
 
Rare Parthenogenesis
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European mantis (Mantis religiosa)
African mantis, giant African mantis, and bush mantis (Sphodromantis viridis)
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