Bugmankeith
Well-known member
I was always wondering this, if females can’t fly how do mantids spread in areas, like areas surrounded by roads?
How do mantids spread if females can’t fly?
- Thread starter Bugmankeith
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The females release pheromones to attract the males... all she has to do is wait. 
Males can detect the pheromones from surprisingly great distances.
Males can detect the pheromones from surprisingly great distances. Bugmankeith
Well-known member
No that’s not what I meant. How do mantid populations spread in distance to new areas if the females can’t fly?The females release pheromones to attract the males... all she has to do is wait.
It's a slow progression which I imagine varies by species. After mating the female is going to search for a place to lay her ooth. She may lay in the same general area or she may walk to another location... her only 2 options. If it means crossing a road, she has to take her chances like every other creature. Her nymphs will repeat the process. The greater distance the female travels, the faster the spread. Does that make any sense?
Such an interesting question. I hope one of the entomologist members chime in on this one.
Such an interesting question. I hope one of the entomologist members chime in on this one.
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Mantid-Tim
Well-known member
Yep. Slow and steady! Good topic though, I never really thought about it like that. If females could fly they'd spread around a lot more. Too bad, lol...
And I've seen S. lineola and T. sinensis females fly a good distance after laying an ooth and being pretty skinny, i.e. light.
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Bugmankeith
Well-known member
Don’t hatchlings use silk to ‘balloon’ in the wind, similar to some spiders and caterpillars, that would allow them to spread quickly
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MantisGirl13
Well-known member
craigbaker
USMANTIS
They certainly can fly. I had one female orchid take off outside like a sparrow and up over tall oak trees. And gone!
Mantis Lady
Well-known member
Sheralynn ( dont remember here species) could fly before she got to heavy.
MrGhostMantis
Well-known member
craigbaker
USMANTIS
Long story
craigbaker
USMANTIS
Regardless, females can fly
The ability of females to sustain flight is dependent on species. Most can, some cannot. I believe the original question was about population distribution of species in which the females are generally flightless.
Mantid-Tim
Well-known member
I've read it's mainly up to the males flying abilities and longer antenna for finding and smelling the females. (The reason why males have both those abilities; to find females that is.) So at night the males go searching around for females led by their antennae smell.
(Information read in Keeping the Praying Mantis by @Orin .)
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Bugmankeith
Well-known member
But how does that allow them to spread state to state? Maybe from trees and plants that get cut?
There are many invertebrates that cannot fly and yet are found across North America and were here before humans migrated over on the land bridge. It does take longer to walk than fly but centipedes, millipedes, springtails, isopods and many others do not have wings.
they probably hitch rides on things too, especially man-made transportation devices...
don't forget that insects are millions of years old and there has been plenty of time for them to crawl everywhere
