Will a Female Continue Calling After Mating?

[JP77]

I found a wild female gravid European Mantis who laid an ooth about a week later. Since she was pretty large and laid an ooth soon after I found her, I figured she may have mated already. However, I noticed that after she laid her second ooth (which was a week after her first), she pointed her abdomen down in a typical calling position. I was curious if this meant she had not mated, or if it was typical of females to continue calling after they mated.

 

[Vlodek]

Female mantids will continue calling even after mating. The more males they mate with the more diverse genetic make up will her babies have. Since she is WC I would suggest finding a male for her just in case.

 

[JP77]

Sounds good. If the weather warms up a bit, I'll leave her container outside to lure some males in.

 

[womantis]

is the calling audible to our ears?

 

[JP77]

is the calling audible to our ears?

No, it's the term given to when a female lowers her abdomen to releases pheromones to attract mates.

 

[Ntsees]

For my mantids, the females will usually start calling again after the 2nd or 3rd ooth is laid. One mating is usually enough, but it doesn't hurt for genetic diversity (or the sometimes extra meal).

 

[womantis]

same exact thing here!! have a wild caught religiosa. she laid a big ooth after two weeks, then another one about 2 weeks later. she is plump again and has taken on the "calling" position you described.

 

[bugmeso]

QUESTION: when someone says "calling", is there actually a noise that a human can hear? Being an 'ol man, my hearing is not the best. according to my wife

 

[mampam]

posted twice in error

 

[mampam]

I read this yesterday and so this morning I put Aphrodite's cage in an orange tree in the garden. An hour later there was a mottled male next to her. They are now mating indoors and if he makes it I will let him go. She has been mating regularly with another male for weeks but nothing has happened yet. I'd like to put her in other parts of the garden and see how many males visit. Is there any easy way to mark mantids so I can count them?

 

[bugmeso]

Very COOL

The picture is great, great work.