Chinese Mantid Mating Attempt

[TNeal]

Well, today I tried to see if I could get my male and one of my females to mate. It didn't go so well. The second she saw him she grabbed him. Luckily she let him go right away. She's a vicious little b%$#h.

I will try again tomorrow. I will feed her and transfer her into his enclosure while she has a fat juicy cricket in her hand. Maybe that will make a difference.

Today she did not have food in her hand and she was in her enclosure.

Wish me luck,

Tom

 

[Mr. Mordax]

Make sure she's well-fed beforehand, try to encourage the male to aproach from behind, and don't disturb them during mating. The last of these is the main reason for the "black widow"-esque myth surrounding mantids.