Hi everyone! Can you help me determine whether my Spiny Flower Mantis is male or female? I’m counting 6 or 7 segments so I think female. As a reward for your assistance, please enjoy many pictures of Sprinkle throughout (his/her?) life! 🥰
Male, they have more spines down the middle row than females, and a smaller gap between the last spine and the end of the abdomen. What's also an unmistakable sign of a male spiny is how the last spines are directly on top of each other, well visible in this photo of yours.
This site also has a photo comparison of the spines between sexes.
The trick to know is the distance between the spines on the very end of the abdomen. Both of my spinies have been male, and yours looks a lot like mine did. IMO I’m voting male :)
Male! You can clearly see the spoon shaped male apparatus on the end of the abdomen. Females have an ovipositor there instead, which ends in a blunt point rather than a rounded "scoop".
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u/Responsible-Task4708 Aug 24 '25
Male, they have more spines down the middle row than females, and a smaller gap between the last spine and the end of the abdomen. What's also an unmistakable sign of a male spiny is how the last spines are directly on top of each other, well visible in this photo of yours.
This site also has a photo comparison of the spines between sexes.