1978] 
Robinson & Robinson — Acanthops falcata 
241 
Figure 1 . A female Acanthops falcata hanging from a twig in its cryptic posture. 
Body length ca 45mm. 
In captivity the females have a life expectancy of about 6 months. 
They lay long slender oothecae which may contain as many as 60 
eggs, but more usually, 25-35. Eggs can be produced every 8 days 
and hatch in 16-19 days. We have records of females, that after one 
mating, laid 16 fertile oothecae. In Panama, at ambient temperature 
(about 25°C-30°C), development from egg to adult is usually 
accomplished in 7 molts, including the molt from pronymph to first 
instar, that takes place at eclosion. Postembrionic development 
takes about 2 months, depending on food supply. We have kept 
males alive for over a month and for most of this time they remain 
sexually active. Even old males can be effectively mated. Unmated 
females secrete a pheromone for a limited period each day until they 
are mated. The period of secretion coincides with the brief daily 
period when males fly. In the wild, this period is immediately after 
dawn, but in the laboratory will occur after a dark/ light transition 
(Robinson & Robinson, in prep.). 
