What is the Difference Between Male and Female Praying Mantis

The main difference between male and female praying mantis is that male praying mantis has eight abdominal segments, whereas female praying mantis has six abdominal segments. Furthermore, the male praying mantis has several small segments towards the end of the abdomen while the final segment of the abdomen of the female praying mantis is large.

Male and female praying mantis are the two sexes of the praying mantis that we can distinguish by the number of segments in the abdomen, structure of antennae, body size, and many other features.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Male Praying Mantis
– Anatomy, Characteristic Features
2. What is Female Praying Mantis
– Anatomy, Characteristic Features
3. What are the Similarities Between Male and Female Praying Mantis
– Outline of Common features
4. What is the Difference Between Male and Female Praying Mantis
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Abdominal Segments, Antennae, Female Praying Mantis, Male Praying Mantis, Size, Wings

Male Praying Mantis – Definition, Characteristic Features

The male praying mantis is the smaller partner of the mating pair of praying mantis. Generally, it leaps onto the female’s back, clasping her thorax and wing bases with his forelegs and then arching his abdomen to deposit and store sperm in a special chamber near the tip of the female’s abdomen. The main characteristic feature, which can be used to identify an adult male praying mantis is the presence of eight abdominal segments when observed from the underside of the body. It has several segments towards the end of the abdomen.

Figure 1: Couple of Mantis religiosa

Furthermore, the antennae of the male praying mantis are generally longer and thicker. Some families of praying mantis have hairy antennae in males. Significantly, only the male praying mantis can fly. Therefore, it has long wings.

Female Praying Mantis – Definition, Characteristic Features

The female praying mantis is the larger insect in the mating pair. However, it sometimes practices sexual cannibalism, eating their mates after copulation. Usually, the female praying mantis is stockier; especially, when considering its thorax. In contrast, it has only six segments in the abdomen. Also, the final segment of the abdomen is large and has a particular shape. Moreover, their nymphs have thin, hair-like antennae. Besides, the adult females have mainly smoother antennae.

Figure 2: Phyllocrania paradoxa Females

Furthermore, the female praying mantis is unable to fly due to their high body weight. Also, its wings are shorter than the body.

Similarities Between Male and Female Praying Mantis

• Male and female praying mantis are the two sexes of the praying mantis, occurring as a result of sexual dimorphism.
• They belong to the order Mantodea.
• Both of them have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks.
• Also, both have elongated bodies with or without wings.
• And, both have a pair of antennae.
• Moreover, they have enlarged forelegs that help them in catching and gripping the prey.
• Their upright posture, while remaining stationary with forearms folded, has led to the common name “praying mantis”.
• Furthermore, they reproduce through copulation.

Difference Between Male and Female Praying Mantis

Definition

Male praying mantis refers to the small praying mantis of the two mating pair that deposits sperms in a special chamber near the tip of the female’s abdomen while female praying mantis refers to the comparatively large praying mantis that lays eggs.

Body Size

An easily visible difference between male and female praying mantis is that the male praying mantis is small while the female praying mantis is comparatively large.

Body Type

Also, the male praying mantis has a more slender body while the female praying mantis has a stockier body.

Wings

However, the male praying mantis has longer wings while that of the female praying mantis are comparatively shorter. Hence, this is also an important difference between male and female praying mantis.

Ability to Fly

Importantly, the only male praying mantis can fly while the female praying mantis cannot fly.

Antennae

Moreover, the male praying mantis has longer and thicker antennae while female praying mantis has shorter and smoother antennae.

Adnominal Segments

Above all, the main difference between male and female praying mantis is that the male praying mantis has eight abdominal segments, whereas female praying mantis has six abdominal segments.

Final Segment of the Abdomen

Furthermore, the male praying mantis has several small segments towards the end of the abdomen while, in the female praying mantis, the final segment of the abdomen is large.

Conclusion

The male praying mantis is the small praying mantis in the mating pair with a slender body containing eight abdominal segments, longer and thicker antennae, and longer wings. On the other hand, the female praying mantis is the larger praying mantis with a stockier body containing six abdominal segments, shorter and smoother antennae, and shorter wings. Therefore, the main difference between male and female praying mantis is the number of abdominal segments, the structure of antennae, wings, and the body.

References:

1. “Male or Female Mantis?” Keeping Insects, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Mantis religiosa couple” By I, Zwentibold (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia   
2. “Phyllocrania paradoxa Morphology” By Mydriatic – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia