Peter Clausen
Well-known member
In this video I document the introduction of a male to a female praying mantis and describe my methodology in a play by play fashion as the situation develops, while making small corrections along the way to maximize the chances for success. Sometimes it goes much more smoothly than this. Sometimes the female eats the male. As noted in the video, we must as keepers watch the interaction between female and male very carefully and be always prepared to intervene, or redirect. It is part science, part art, part chance and part experience. Inevitably, it is up to the female mantis!