mating praying mantis

Description:

Sexual cannibalism is common among mantises in captivity, and under some circumstances may also be observed in the field. The female may begin feeding by biting off the male’s head (as they do with regular prey), and if mating has begun, the male’s movements may become even more vigorous in its delivery of sperm. Early researchers thought that because copulatory movement is controlled by a ganglion in the abdomen, not the head, removal of the male’s head was a reproductive strategy by females to enhance fertilisation while obtaining sustenance.

Notes:

many of you may have heard interesting stories about sexual cannibalism among praying mantis. But i could not observe any action of the female regarding those stories as this couple move into a more darker place in the plant soon after i took the photographs. stories and researches done on the mating behavior of the praying mantis are so interesting .... hope you'l read the reference links and enhance your knowledge.....