REGARDING THE FEMALE MANTIS EATING THE HEAD OFF OF THE MALE BEFORE MATING, I FOUND THIS INTERESTING INFORMATION.

For some 200 years it was thought that the female praying mantis decapitated her male partner before mating in order to induce a sexual response. However, recent studies by biologists show that is not the case at all. “The male mantis performs a ritual dance and the female, instead of attacking her mate, responds with a dance of her own,” reports Science magazine. “It ends with a non-threatening posture signaling her receptiveness.” What caused the misconception? Stressful conditions and lack of food, say the biologists. In original studies, the insects just weren’t given enough food, and the female mantis is usually more hungry than amorous.

I think the reason the female eats the male is probably for one of the following reasons, or a few of them:

1-She might be starving, and the male is right by, why not?
2-Eating the male will provide a high amount of proteins and vitamins which will help the development of the '' ootheca(egg)''
3-It causes the release of sperm to be more vigorous during sex, thank god its not like that for humans XD
4-(joke)The male mantis admitted he had sex with another mantis before doing it with her XD

Well, Ive seen this happen before, so this is a true fact

it continues mating with a headless mate then eats the rest of him.

HAE D0OES ANY ONE HAVE ANY GOOD FACTS ABOUT PRAYING MANTIS'S I HAVE THIS PRESENTATION I HAVE TO DO AND I DONT HAVE ANY FACTS HELP!!!!!!

Yeah i guess but it better than being something else like i dont know a spider the male always gets eaten after mating at least if the male makes a good impression he might live.

"Who wants to be a mantis?"
i would feel used.. but die happy i guess? :D

wow

Yeah Burr lemonade

Wow these are NASTY creatures!

the female praying mantis only eats the male on very rare occasions, usualy because she's starving.

Females eating males has been documented, but it's not the rule, and males certainly can have sex with their heads attached. Praying mantises are hungry critters and they'll eat anything, including one another. The females are larger than the males, and so can gobble up a male. During mating, the two are necessarily close, and if the female wants a snack, the male is simply available. In the wild, this cannibalism seldom occurs.

One online source is:

http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=exoticpets&cdn=homegarden&tm=29&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_p812.0.336.ip_&tt=11&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.mantiskingdom.com/

I read that the female will begin to mate with the male and then she will bite his head off which in turn causes the make to become more vigerous in the release of sperm. It is said that this does not happen every time. And happens more often in the lab than in the field.

The female praying mantis will eat the male AFTER mating. not before. and scientists believe this only happens 20% to 30% of the time in the wild under watch. The female could be under starving conditions and eats the male. Like a nymph will eat another nymph because they are starving.

Lester Williams wrote: #
I'll bet this causes a large number of male Mantis' to become gay! Wow, and I thought MY girlfriend was rough during sex!

lololololilikepielolololz

This isn't true

its a mean website

I'll bet this causes a large number of male Mantis' to become gay! Wow, and I thought MY girlfriend was rough during sex!

Yeah-The male cannot mate with it's head still attached, so in order to mate, the female must bite his head off-and this info can be found in a lot of places!

i reckon that the reason the female eats the males head is because the eggs can grow alot faster and can also grow healty and strong.

She looks hot to mate with!!!!!!!!!!!!

your all wrong the female does this becouse its their only way the mate, the male has a nerve in the nak the when cut relisis the sperm.. something like that.. this info can be found in every ensiclopedy..

haha no no they eat the head of hte praying mantis before mating with it

Perhaps it leaves out the genitals...? Or is it a case of it eating a couple of males before actually finding the one to mate with...I know a couple of women like that !! Praying Mantis kills its mate as its mate dismounts...anyway...such a small mistake could change the whole meaning of a something.