Mike Maxwell completed a study on the reproductive behaviors of praying mantises. Although it was known that the female mantises eats the male after mating, Maxwell was surprised to find that the male continues to have the urge and the ability to procreate even after losing his head. Mantises usually bite the head of their prey for feeding, and the female mantises use this same method when killing a male mantis after mating. Maxwell observed that the male would usually continue to finish the mating ritual even after getting attacked by the female most of the time.

According to Maxwell, cannibalism in animals is fairly frequent “But usually it’s not in a sexual context.. A lot of animals in general, like sharks, will eat their own young or kill their siblings. It usually has to do with competition for food.” He further explains that sexual cannibalism is more rare and only occurs in animals that are predators and have the drive to kill. With respect to evaluation the consumption of the male translates to a healthier mother and therefore healthier eggs.

In addition to sexual cannibalism, almost one third of female mantises mate with more than one male partner. Maxwell believes that this is due to the possibility for the female to achieve more genetic diversity in an uncertain environment.