N. Wennerae Questions for Dr. Roy

[Codeman00]

Dr Roy,

I received a N Wennerea today from TBS and wanted to see if you could tell me if it's male or female. How do you determine the sex of N Wenn or any other mantis?

 

[Timmy]

Sorry, i'm not Dr. Roy but i have some good pics to show you the difference. Thake a look at the third legs and if you see two tubes about a third of the length of the leg, than it is a male.

Male

Female

 

[Gonodactylus]

The reddish brown color morph of N. wennerae is more often than not a female.

Roy

 

[Codeman00]

Thanks guys....Dr. Roy...how about if its the flourescent green morph that has never changed color? I'll get you a picture soon....its a friend's mantis.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Green can be either sex and many people find that if they get a red N. w and move it to bright, broad spectrum light, they will turn green. The red color seems associated with dim, blue light that occurs deeper or in murky habitats.

Roy

 

[Codeman00]

Roy, this is my friend's N. Wennerae "Gringo"...can you tell the sex by this color morph or do I have use Timmy's method above?

 

[Gonodactylus]

It is safest to look at the genetalia, but if I had to guess, I would say female. Females tend to be lighter green and I think I see a hint of ovarian development.

Roy