Wild S. limbata mating with my Euro?

[MandellaMandy123]

Hi everyone,

I'm a little freaked out right now.... You see, I put my female European mantis (Mantis Religiosa) on a tree outside about 2 1/2 weeks ago, because I trust her not to go anywhere and even if she did, she's a wild caught. About a week ago, I noticed she was releasing pheromones and last night when I was bringing the dog out to go potty I saw there was a praying mantis mating with her. This morning, they were still together so I looked and discovered that the male was a Stagmomantis limbata! Now I'm absolutely sure my female is a European mantid, she has the black and white bull's eye marking inside her arms, the correct head shape, long wings, etc. I'm also sure that the male is a S. Limbata. I pulled up his wing to look at his underwing and everything. They're not actually connected, he just has a hold of her like maybe they were and they just stopped. Could the male be confused? What's happening?

Thanks,

Wolfie

 

[agent A]

sometimes this happens

maybe there was a female stagmo in the tree that the religiosa ate

 

[brancsikia339]

Wow!!! recatch them! Hybrid maybe?

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Actually, I noticed the male in the tree day before yesterday, then yesterday he was gone and I assumed she ate him, but then he came back so who knows. I doubt it will be a hybrid because they're two totally different genuses that wouldn't naturally occur together in the wild. I'll recatch her. Should I remove him from her if he doesn't leave?

 

[Ntsees]

One thing to note is that just because a male is on the back of a female does not mean they have mated. As you've said, they did not connect because the male is unable to (like a wrong key to a lock). Go ahead and remove the male if you don't want him to be eaten. I'm surprised the religiosa allowed the limbata to mount her. When Iris oratoria males gently mounts a female religiosa, the female usually goes beserk as if something attacked her.

 

[brancsikia339]

If they're connected let them mate. A hybrid is unlikely but possible!!!

 

[MandellaMandy123]

They're not connected, so I'll leave them for a while but when I get to it I'll seperate them

 

[Extrememantid]

If it happens I def want some nymphs!

 

[Rick]

If they could interbreed successfully you would find some sort of hybrids where their ranges overlap. There is a reason you don't. What happened is not unusual. I have found Tenodera females in the wild with two or three S. carolina males on their backs. Wish I had a picture.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Yeah, I'll remove him when I get a chance. She doesn't seem to be hurting him, so...

 

[brancsikia339]

Just let it happen. If it does, it does. If it doesn't, it doesn't

 

[alan2296]

If it happens I def want some nymphs!

me too!! very interesting........ i wonder what the offspring will look like.

 

[MantidLord]

Hi, can you catch a male limbata for me? My female has been an adult for about 2 weeks now and I really want to breed her.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Sorry, my mom won't let me send mantids to anyone Internet safety.......

Well, they're connected now, so I'll recatch her just to humor you guys

 

[agent A]

Sorry, my mom won't let me send mantids to anyone Internet safety.......

do it covertly

 

[brancsikia339]

YAYAYAYAYAY!! Hybrid maybe! (to the tune of call me maybe)

 

[agent A]

YAYAYAYAYAY!! Hybrid maybe! (to the tune of call me maybe)

hey i just bred u

this is crazy

you're different species

so hybrid maybe!!

 

[brancsikia339]

hey i just bred u

this is crazy

you're different species

so hybrid maybe!!

YESS! YES YES YES

But anyway good luck with them!!

 

[Rick]

Pics of the connection? I wouldn't think these two species could actually connect.