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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mantids and Cockroaches (Dictyoptera) » Mantids (Mantodea)
Photo#149407
Backyard Cannibalism
Copyright © 1999 beetlemaria

Backyard Cannibalism
Van Nuys, Los Angeles County, California, USA
November 30, 1999
I took this shocking picture in my backyard on a buckwheat plant. As you can see, the two mantis are still in mating position but the head of the male is gone - eaten! Are they California mantis? Are they known for this kind of behaviour? I read somewhere that the European mantis has been observed to do that. After a while they were gone. I wonder if she ate the rest of him too.
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Contributed by beetlemaria on 1 October, 2007 - 9:43am
Last updated 9 November, 2007 - 9:34pm

A well-fed mother
produces high quality eggs. One way to ensure your genes are passed on to the next generation!!
… john and jane balaban, 1 October, 2007 - 12:17pm login or register to post comments

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