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From: dwd@sfsup.UUCP (David W. Dougherty)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc,net.rec.birds
Subject: Re: captive behavior - references requested
Message-ID: <544@sfsup.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Oct-86 20:53:46 EDT
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Posted: Mon Oct 20 20:53:46 1986
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> SOMEWHERE of recent findings that female preying mantises devour their mate
> ONLY in captivity, apparently an aberrant behavior due to stress of captivity.

*** YOUR MESSAGE *** :-)

This, simply, is *NOT* true!  I watched a Nat'l Geo. special on
channel thirteen where the nature photographers photographed a
mating session between two preying mantises.  During copulation,
the female would behead the male (nerves would keep him going) and
immediately preceeding the female would devour the male.  I *DON'T*
think that the particular behavior you are addressing is a result
of captivity, as the latter documentary was filmed in the wild.

Let's keep the facts straight...eh?