How do mantises differentiate between male and female (detailed introduction)

To distinguish between male and female praying mantises, you usually need to pay attention to characteristics such as body size, wing length, and abdominal shape. Here is a detailed introduction on how to tell the difference between male and female praying mantises:

1. Body size:

Male mantises are usually slightly smaller than female mantises. Within the same species of mantis, the smaller one is generally male and the larger one is female.

2. Wing length:

The front wings of male mantises are usually longer than the hind wings, while the front and rear wings of female mantises are relatively similar in length.

In the family Mantidae, the wings of male mantises can cover most of the abdomen, while the wings of females usually do not.

3. Abdominal shape:

The abdomen of male praying mantises is usually slender and slender, while the abdomen of female praying mantises is rounder, especially when pregnant.

4. Antenna shape:

In some mantis species, the antennae of the male may be relatively thick and sometimes more developed than those of the female.

5. Color and texture:

In some species of mantises, there may be some differences in color and markings between males and females, but this distinction does not apply to all species.

6. Genitals:

In some cases, it is necessary to observe the genitals of the mantis to determine the sex. Female mantises have a distinct vulva at the end of their abdomen, while male mantises have complex external genitalia.

In general, for some mantis species, distinguishing male from female may require a combination of multiple characteristics, including body size, wing length, abdominal shape, antennae shape, etc. When observing a praying mantis, a combination of these characteristics can help identify its gender. However, not all mantis species have obvious physical differences, and sometimes it may be necessary to delve further into the gender characteristics of a particular species.

animal tags： mantis