Is It Advantageous
A mantid ootheca with young emerging
It is surprising that the behaviour of sexual cannibalism has not been selected against, especially given the detrimental potentials it generates for both female and male mantids (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008), not to mention the conflict it implies between the sexes (Lelito & Brown 2006).
Sexual cannibalism does directly result in the enhanced fecundity of females and offspring hatching success (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008, Prokop & Radovan 2008). So it can be said that sexual cannibalism can be advantageous to mantids. However, as shown there are many hypotheses as to the meaning and consequent maintenance of sexual cannibalism in mantids, with scientific literature still debating the exact mechanisms by which it evolved and why it still persists today. Prokop & Radovan (2005) commented that the causes of cannibalism in mantids are not supported with unequivocal evidence.
Sexual cannibalism does directly result in the enhanced fecundity of females and offspring hatching success (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008, Prokop & Radovan 2008). So it can be said that sexual cannibalism can be advantageous to mantids. However, as shown there are many hypotheses as to the meaning and consequent maintenance of sexual cannibalism in mantids, with scientific literature still debating the exact mechanisms by which it evolved and why it still persists today. Prokop & Radovan (2005) commented that the causes of cannibalism in mantids are not supported with unequivocal evidence.