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INTERESTING FACT

Praying Mantis Facts

An interesting fact regarding this insect is that, while they are mating, the female praying mantis eats the males head. No one knows for sure why, but it could be that protein from male body helps the eggs develop. Praying mantis have excellent eye sight and they can see up to 18 meters (60 feet) away. They are not dangerous creatures (well at least not to the humans) and their average lifespan is around 12 months. Who wants to be a mantis?






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Posted by: Clyde Joe Cassar



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FACT COMMENTS


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Phyllis
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.
Quote Phyllis's commment
Phyllis at 02:32PM, Jul 27th 2010.
Anonymous
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
Quote Anonymous's commment
Anonymous at 02:46PM, Jun 8th 2010.
Kitty
Well, Ive seen this happen before, so this is a true fact
Quote Kitty's commment
Kitty at 03:43PM, May 12th 2010.
BLAH
it continues mating with a headless mate then eats the rest of him.
Quote BLAH's commment
BLAH at 08:35AM, May 4th 2010.
Jinnie
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!!!!!!
Quote Jinnie's commment
Jinnie at 09:43PM, Apr 11th 2010.
Jinnie
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.
Quote Jinnie's commment
Jinnie at 09:41PM, Apr 11th 2010.
Stefan
"Who wants to be a mantis?"
i would feel used.. but die happy i guess? :D
Quote Stefan's commment
Stefan at 03:06AM, Mar 30th 2010.
bob
wow
Quote bob's commment
bob at 07:04PM, Mar 22nd 2010.
Gucci mane
Yeah Burr lemonade
Quote Gucci mane's commment
Gucci mane at 10:52AM, Feb 10th 2010.
Aleesha Marylon
Wow these are NASTY creatures!
Quote Aleesha Marylon's commment
Aleesha Marylon at 10:08PM, Feb 9th 2010.
hffgg grfgh
the female praying mantis only eats the male on very rare occasions, usualy because she's starving.
Quote hffgg grfgh's commment
hffgg grfgh at 05:18PM, Jan 25th 2010.
Bill
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/
Quote Bill's commment
Bill at 04:14AM, Sep 24th 2009.
Sybil
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.
Quote Sybil's commment
Sybil at 11:11AM, Aug 6th 2009.
Liza
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.
Quote Liza's commment
Liza at 09:46PM, May 5th 2009.
Dave
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
Quote Dave's commment
Dave at 07:27PM, May 5th 2009.
Interesting Facts
Can you please state what isn't true and also point to the source that says otherwise. Please!
Quote Interesting Facts's commment
Interesting Facts at 12:43PM, Apr 24th 2009.
blah
This isn't true
Quote blah's commment
blah at 04:37PM, Apr 23rd 2009.
challace
its a mean website
Quote challace's commment
challace at 10:45PM, Mar 31st 2009.
Lester Williams
I'll bet this causes a large number of male Mantis' to become gay! Wow, and I thought MY girlfriend was rough during sex!
Quote Lester Williams's commment
Lester Williams at 06:58PM, Jan 24th 2009.
Erin
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!
Quote Erin's commment
Erin at 05:36PM, Nov 12th 2008.
ece
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.
Quote ece's commment
ece at 09:01PM, Sep 28th 2008.
Albert
She looks hot to mate with!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote Albert's commment
Albert at 04:56PM, Sep 16th 2008.
meurix
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..
Quote meurix's commment
meurix at 10:54AM, Jul 3rd 2008.
Ro
haha no no they eat the head of hte praying mantis before mating with it
Quote Ro's commment
Ro at 09:36AM, May 8th 2008.
John
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.
Quote John's commment
John at 09:58AM, May 6th 2008.

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