Praying Mantis Behavior: Understanding Sexual Cannibalism

Why do female praying mantises sometimes eat their mate?

A. To increase their survival and reproductive success

B. To assert dominance

C. To defend their territory

D. To find a source of food

Answer:

A. To increase their survival and reproductive success

Praying mantises exhibit a behavior known as sexual cannibalism, where the female eats the male during or after mating. This behavior appears to increase the survival and reproductive success of the species.

The behavior of the praying mantis eating its mate, known as sexual cannibalism, is quite intriguing from a biological perspective. This behavior is not common in all mantis species, but is observed primarily in Mantis religiosa, or the European Mantis. The female mantis, being larger and stronger than the male, often resorts to eating the male during or immediately after mating.

However, not every mating event ends in cannibalism. Some scientists argue that this behavior contributes to the survival and reproductive success of the species as it provides the female with a high-protein meal that aids in the fertilization process and subsequent egg-laying phase.

Praying mantises are adept insect hunters, using their front legs to catch prey. Despite their stillness and use of camouflage, praying mantises are skilled hunters capable of capturing prey as large as small lizards.