Mantids are predators throughout their lives. In this photograph, the largest of the three mantids, a female, is mating with the male who is missing his head. According to Preston-Mafham in "Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World", mating males probably only get decapitated when some interruption occurs during the mating process. In a similar case, he suggested that the second male displaced the mating male to the side, moving him into a position conveniently within reach.
mantid egg case
2003 August 12 along Devil's Hall Trail
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