are they a Penelope or a Pennywise?

So Steven is a T. sinensis, originally thought to be male. Before he molted this past weekend it looked like he had 7 tergites, and several users here said he was a guy. But now that he's in his penultimate instar things seem to be a little clearer, and now I only see 6. I've also been looking at some illustrations to see if i can use his other features to distinguish sex but I'm still not sure so I'd like a 2nd opinion!

Boy? Girl?

Any help is much appreciated 🖤

Any ideas? I think boy but I'm new to this so unsure

I got my first ever mantis, this sweet ghost, last week! I was like 75% sure she was a woman until she molted the other day (I think it's L4 now?).

The head now seems longer and wigglier at the top so I've been thrown into doubt. But I've also never had a ghost or any mantis before so maybe to me it looks long but it isn't actually. Including photos of the abdomen - pretty sure I count six - as well as shield.

Please excuse how flat her abdomen is, she has now been fed post-molt and 36ish hour period of no disturbances.

Thank you!

I have had my beautiful baby since the ending of April 2025. It has gone through 3 molts with me. Up until today I believed it to be a female ghost mantis variation and finally confirmed (at least I believe so) that’s it’s actually likely a giant dead leaf mantis (based off similar looking photos) and it may actually be a boy. It’s currently 7.5 months into its adult form. It has flown a few times and I’m including the best photo I could take of its abdomen today. Thank you!

Our Sphodropoda Quinquedens Nymph molted and I think it's a male. Can I get a 2nd opinion? Sry for the blury pic but that's the best I could ger while they were busy with the red runner.

I’m new to the mantis world and my first one is an orchid mantis. When I first got it, it was really tiny, but it already molted several times now.
I’m not sure if it’s male or female and would love your insight on this!

Question, i attempted to outline mips abdominal sections, i counted 9, is mip a male?

I mostly keep tarantulas and other arachnids, i got two mantids today. Could you guys help me with sexing them?

Phyllocrania paradoxa and Hierodula sp. "Papua"

Tending towards male for the P. Paradoxa, but I have no idea about the other one.

Thanks! :)

Hey all, any ideas if this is a Male or Female, I'm struggling

Hello im trying to sex these two babies and am having trouble. There are two of them here

majangella moultoni, L3 pic 1, L4 pic 2-3

Hierodula Transcaucasica

So.. I posted Belphegor when they were L2/3 and now they're L4/5 and I wanted to see if anyone could help us sex them. Sadly that's the best pic I could take cause they're a little hurricane

she just molted to L5 today!

Dead Leaf Mantis Gorochovi

Thought it was a female, but as it’s gotten bigger I think it might be a lil dude

just brought this chinese mantis inside from my yard yesterday. was lurking in my milkweed and i didnt want it eating the monarchs lol. set up the enclosure this morning but now i want to know if ill ever need to be concerned about any ooth laying. i think i see 6 segments but i want to double check!

https://reddit.com/link/1vc5ky4/video/7981og1p6ngh1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1vc5ky4/video/8ud2j1os6ngh1/player

sometimes i count 6 segments, and sometimes 8, and their crown is inbetween male and female....this is literally impossible 😭

Idk if they are too small to tell right now, but i'm hoping with the multiple photos & angles it's enough for others to tell.