Is the mating ritual of the orchid mantis cannibalistic?

The praying mantis in the wild is not usually cannibalistic as part of the mating ritual. It is only in captivity that they turn cannibal. One of the reasons for this is that in captivity, they are often not given a sufficient amount of food to support the egg case. To prevent mantis mating cannibalism, you need to feed the female on a high protein diet before, during and after mating. This also ensures a good strong ootheca. High protein levels can be found in various catepillars (eg Wax worms) and in mealworms. Feeding while mating can be achieved by dangling a worm by fishing wire in front of the female before the male mounts.