The mantid Diego II

Driven by curiosity and the urge to test the hypothesis that the smaller, similarly brown-mottled but black forlegged mantid was indeed the male of Diego’s species (ok, driven by the sheer excitement of having little Diegos to complete the whole cycle as well), we found and collected one of these, and in a social entomological experiment, chucked them together after ensuring that they were both well-fed and would highly unlikely bite each other’s heads off in the notorious cannibalistic manner of mating mantids. Diego was nearly two weeks into adulthood, and her sexual organs should have matured.

The first time we placed them together, yesterday, Diego would get ‘freaked out’ and dart away whenever the male approached, although the male was showing no signs of being consciously attracted to her. Not being able to observe them throughout the night, I separated them and vowed to try again this evening.

So I did… after Diego had consumed a grasshopper her size in the afternoon.

Both their antennae twitched continuously. Diego turned her head to look at the male, then faced front again, as if paying him no attention. Then the male sprung, and landed on her back to front. He about turned, then turned again. Wrong direction. He then got off… and they paid no need to each other. I removed him.

Tried again a second time a few moments later. This round, he pounced, re-orientated himself, and tried to connect. Success – after about 18 seconds. She stayed still throughout the entire process.

They were at it for 22 minutes, before he dismounted and flew off.

Now I can’t wait to see if she lays a fertilised ootheca!