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Breeding Orchid Mantids (Hymenopus coronatus)

7.1K views 20 replies 4 participants last post by  Oski1  
#1 ·
Hi, My female Orchid is now just over 4 weeks mature as an adult, she is eating well and looks quite fat, I have a new male who is about 3/4 weeks mature, I want to pair them up, but wondered shall I wait for a while more?

And would you put them together on a plant? or in their pots?
Any other tips?

Thanks
 
#3 ·
I'd say wait another 2 weeks, we waited until the female was 6 weeks mature and had a perfect pairing. The male was 5 weeks mature at the time.

The males are good to go until they are 8 weeks mature, so you should be ok to wait.

I worried about the size difference between this species, if she isn't ready she could eat him with like one bite lol!

I always say the longer you leave it the better, means she will definitely be ready, also if you've not seen her call or lay any ooths, waiting a little while won't hurt.
 
#5 ·
You can do, but I found the most success happens when the male is relaxes, so put him down first, then introduce her. Then if you want, get her to eat, but we've never fed the female during mating. We find if she is ready, she won't eat him.

The orchids are very lenient when they are ready to breed.
 
#9 ·
mantids

Hi

Having bred plenty of Hymenopus I would say that your pair are close enough to put together, these are quite an easy species to mate, but the first thing the female will do is try and lift her wings once the males jumps on and taps her, if the male is too light at this point he is a poor mate so the female flips him off and quite often eats him, so feed the males prior to pairing. I would also suggest that you do keep well gut loaded flying food in the pair whilst they are together (this can be several days before they couple) to avoid disappointment.

Regards

Graham & Janice
 
#10 ·
Hi

Having bred plenty of Hymenopus I would say that your pair are close enough to put together, these are quite an easy species to mate, but the first thing the female will do is try and lift her wings once the males jumps on and taps her, if the male is too light at this point he is a poor mate so the female flips him off and quite often eats him, so feed the males prior to pairing. I would also suggest that you do keep well gut loaded flying food in the pair whilst they are together (this can be several days before they couple) to avoid disappointment.

Regards

Graham & Janice
Not sure if it was luck, but we waited until she was 6 weeks mature, he connected within 5 minutes of being on her back. :lol2: The next day I had to play find the male in our front room, but it was a good pairing.
 
#11 ·
matids

Hi
This species will show some variation in mating, but normally you find the male will stay with the female for a few days, quite happily feeding when needed and tapping her wings to remind her of his presence, and in fact quite often they will couple several times, but like most species this can change according to how close the female is to laying, the male will leave the female whilst she lays, and when we have run trials on them, the male will stay away from the female for a few days whilst she refills with food and then get back on her and re mate quite easily.
Regards
Graham & Janice