Usually females have 6 segments on their abdomen with the last one being wider and larger so she can lay eggs. The male has 8 abdominal segments and they get slimmer. Males are often smaller too. Not in all species but as a general rule.

So carefully turn it over and start counting from the bottom up towards the body. Take a photo as it may be less stressful for the mantid and easy for you to count at you leisure.

OK thanks Eileen. Based on what you said, this is a female. She'll most likely lay her eggs where she's been living her whole life; in my flower bed. That means I'll get more next year. I just have be careful never to use pesticides or any chemicals. She's a fantastic helper in the garden. She eats all the bugs and my garden looks very healthy and fresh because of her.

A female who, once finished with this instar will molt to become a mature adult with fully developed wings and will start to display herself to attract a male for mating purposes. The male will also provide enough protein for egg production via cannibalization by the female. I use to raise them. I started by feeding the newly hatched ones fruit flies. Naturalist Henri J Fabre beautifully wrote about the life of the mantid and his observations can be found on the web translated from his native language-French- to - English. The title of the book is " The Social Life of the Insect World" by Henri J. Fabre....just to add that the female displays herself by simply coming out of hiding while stalking for a meal and placing herself on a fence, a bare twig or even the side of a house or door. The drawback is vulnerability to natural predators such as birds.

That's very interesting Loosestrife. I'm going to read Henri's book. They are quite large at the final stage. Does the female release pheromones while she's out there on the fence post? Not long afterwards, the first frost will arrive. Then it's 'game over'

Yes pheromones is the name of the females game. The poorly fed females give off a more intense concentration of them and they do attract more males than the well fed females. I bred my mantids indoors and they do die mostly in the month of November so that seems to be the end of their natural life span. Fabre was a very interesting person. Darwin had great respect for him though Fabre himself was very careful to stay out the “evolutionary” battle due to his religious beliefs. Like Mark Twain, he was one of the few who began to write in a colloquial style, something considered a novelty back in those days. He was also one of the first if not the first to initiate the coeducational classroom.

That argument is a slippery slope and Fabre was wise to avoid it. Thanks for your input.

Super photos too - they are amazing aren't they? Great little creatures.

Thanks Sue. Yes they are amazing. They won't run from you, but will actually confront and try to interact with you and might let you hold it.

Ok to try to get it to walk up on your hand just don’t hold a finger in front of its head. To do so will cause it to reflexively clasp it’s front legs with spikes upon your finger. Once held it will attempt to dive right in and munch on it.....happened to me a couple of times....very difficult to get it off when your in panic mode without causing damage to the mantis.

Thanks for letting me know. She hasn't struck yet but I'm not tempting fate. Our winters come earlier than yours' so she only has until mid October. Even 40°F is too cold for her.

I'm glad you enjoyed it Klahanie. These threads sometimes take on a life of their own. It's always interesting to hear other points of view.