Male and female mantis

There is a fairly common opinion that the female mantis, being larger and more gluttonous, eats when the male meets. It should, however, be said that this is not always the case.

The male, seeing the female, begins very slowly, with frequent and prolonged stops, to approach it. She at this time can eat, clean or catch prey. Approximation can last five to six hours. The male, as a rule, tries to approach the female from behind. This path is considered the safest and most successful for him.

If the female mantis notices him, then he stops and freezes for a fairly long time. If the male approaches from the side, then he has more chances to be seen and eaten. It should be said that the female mantis is more aggressive when hungry. Fecundated individuals do not react so actively to prey and to movement around themselves. This fact also helps the male survive.

The fertilized female secretes a special adhesive liquid, laying eggs. This liquid, envelops the eggs and hardens. As a result, a capsule is formed - ootheca. In the center of this capsule is from one hundred to three hundred eggs. Ooteca is glued to stones or plants. This capsule is hard enough. Inside, the necessary moisture for the development of eggs remains. Capsule, in addition, provides protection for future offspring from the negative impact of the environment. It should be said that in ootec eggs can tolerate short-term frosts with a decrease in temperature to minus eighteen degrees.

In the south of the European middle band for development, it seems that temporary cooling (diapause) is needed. When breeding in captivity, however, it is enough to place the mantis eggs for a month in the refrigerator. The temperature should be from zero to plus three degrees. It should be said that in the tropical regions the development of eggs occurs without diapause.

What does the mantis eat?

Individuals eat small insects. When breeding in captivity, as a rule, difficulties with what to feed the mantis, does not arise. The larvae first use aphids, thrips. As they develop, they switch to larger fruit flies.

It should be noted that in captivity, larvae attack quite actively against each other. In the natural environment, they manage to settle before they start destroying each other.

The life span of adults is from fifty-five to sixty days. As a rule, the female of the Mantis lives longer than the male. It should be noted that even with the creation of the necessary conditions in captivity and the abundance of food, individuals die during October in accordance with the time of their birth in the spring.

The old insect has dark spots, and its bright green color becomes pale.

The chemical analysis indicated that such vital amino acids as lysine, leucine, valine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine, etc. disappear in the body.

The addition of these amino acids, as well as vitamins A, D and E in the diet contributes to an increase in life expectancy by an average of two or three months, compared with the usual life span.