Feeding Praying Mantis

While the nymphs are small it is best to feed them small insects such as fruit flies, aphids or micro crickets. It is always a good idea to have a supply of these ready for when you receive your nymph (size of food depends on age of nymph ordered). Its best to feed them as much as they will eat, but you must be careful as I've heard that their abdomen can bust if over fed.

As the nymphs grow, they can move onto larger foods such as crickets, locus, wax worms, meat flies and other insects. The mantis can easily take prey as large as themselves and of their own species. Remember any creepy crawly is food for the mantis.

Try to vary the food given as much as possible, too much of the same food (mainly crickets) can make the mantis weak. Any uneaten food should be taken out of the container due to the mantis being venerable while sheading. This also includes any half-eaten dead insects, as mould can form on these.

Hungry Mantis

As you can see from the photographs this hungry mantis captured and killed a hummingbird not much smaller than itself. The mantis used its spiny left foreleg to impale the hummingbird through the chest while leaving his right leg free.

We surmised that the mantis ran the hummer through and dangled its full weight on its foreleg while he consumed the flesh of the hummingbird from the abdomen. After he had his fill, the mantis gave his foreleg several swift jerks and freed his leg.

Giant Asian Praying Mantis

Hierodula trimaculata

Giant Malaysian Praying Mantis, this vigorous eater is large and typical praying mantis apperance.

Have you ever seen any of those 1950's B-Movies - where a Colossal 200ft Mantis is terroising New York - pulling down sky scrapers??? - Well, they look just like that - but a bit smaller!!!
The colour can vary from greens, browns and creams. When adult, they can measure upto a whacking 100 - 110 mm in size (dependent on the sex - girls are bigger than boys). They are a heavily built Mantis, strong enough to rip apart and eat fully grown Locuts. Looking very similar to the Giant Asian and Giant Indian Mantis, this is a great large species to keep.

Living in Malaysia, they should be maintained in a relatively hot environment, with a temperature of 22 - 30C (71.6 - 86F), with the humidity in the region of 60 - 70%. Tolerant to the temperature and humidity irregularities, this makes them a hardy species.

Giant Malaysian Praying Mantis

Hierodula membranacea
The Giant Asian Praying Mantis is a large typical looking praying mantis from Asia

A classic looking praying Mantis .Colours vary from green to yellow-green or brown to reddish-brown. Measure roughly 80 - 90mm in size when adult this again makes them a large specie to own. Due to their size, they are heavily built and look similar to the Giant Indian and Giant Malaysian Mantis.

East-South Asia. Living in hot and humid climates they can be maintained with a temperature of 22 - 30C (71.6 - 86F), with the humidity in the region of 60 - 70%. If this is not quite right, don't panic! - they'll be fine.

Ghost Praying Mantis

Phyllocrania paradoxa

The Ghost Praying Mantis is a madagascan praying mantis with leaf like projections on the legs and head.

This small species grows to aprox. 45-50mm in length when adult. They look similar to the Dead Leaf Mantis, looking like a dead dried up leaf.
A twisted leaf protrudes from the head and on the prothorax (neck) it is flattened with pointed triangular extensions on each side. The walking legs have broken leaf shaped lobes attached and the abdomen also has extensions on either side. Veins run through the wings when adult, making them able to camouflage even better! The colours range from an almost black to a light tan. The males are easily recognised compared to the females, due to their long antennae, almost transparent wings and olive colour.

These are a long-lived Mantis, shedding their skin like other species aprox. every 3-5 weeks until the 4th shed. From here on they eat infrequently and the last shed before adult hood can take aprox. 2 months.

They come from Africa and Madagascar. This species likes to be kept warm at a temperature of 25-30C (77-86F). A heat mat may be needed during the winter months, but in summer you should be fine at room temperature - make sure they are not kept near any drafts! While young spray them 5 -7 times a week with a fine mister. When nearly adult take this down to aprox. 3 times a weeks.

Egyptian Praying Mantis

Miomantis abyssinica, paykullii and pharaonica

The Egyptian Praying Mantis is a small, slender species of praying mantis from Egypt. They range in colour from straw to green

This is a small, slender Mantis, measuring 35 - 40mm in length. The females are slightly bigger and heavier in build, where as the males can be 5mm longer in length, but are both still very dainty. Mimicking grass stems in the wild, they range from straw like colours going through to light greens.

Depending on the species they range from Africa, Egypt and Tanzania. Needing slightly hot and dry conditions, this is a hardy specimen. Having a temperature in the region of 22 - 35 (71.6 - 95F), this is slightly warmer then room temperature. Keep the humidity level in the region of 60 - 70%, this should suit the Mantis

Dead Leaf Praying Mantis

Deroplatys desiccata, lobata and truncata

Dead Leaf Praying Mantids mimic decaying, crumpled leaves in Malaysia hence how they get their name.

This spinney looking fellow is camouflaged to mimic decaying, crumpled leaves. The colours range from a mottled brown, pale orangey brown through to an almost black. Size depends on species and sex, but range from 75 - 85mm in size. Females are substantially larger and heavier then males.

If you disturb them, they will gently rock as if they have been caught in the breeze. And if they feel threatened, they will throw them selves to the ground, lying motionless on the floor.

Malaysia. All of these species can be found here as well as Borneo, Indonesia and Sumatra. Being hot countries, you should keep the temperature at about 25 - 30C with a humidity in the region of 70 - 80%. This is slightly warmer and more humid than other species of Mantids are normally kept.

Chinese Praying Mantis

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

The Chinese Praying Mantis is a large common mantis originating from China but lives in the USA

A long and thin praying mantis with the colours ranging in different shades of browns. When adult, they have a green lateral stripe down the side of the wing case. They also have a small spike on the four walking legs. Being quite a large Mantis, the adult size varies from 85 - 100mm in length (Dependent on the sex). This species originates from China but can be found in the USA too. This species inhabits grasslands in moderate climates. The environment temperatures should be inbetween 20 - 26C (68 - 78.8F), and the humidity in the region of 60 - 65%.

Bud Wing Praying Mantis

Parasphendale affinis

The Bud Wing Praying Mantis is a medium praying mantis from kenya with small bud wings.

When females turn adult you can really see why we call them Bud Wing Praying Mantids, the wings only cover part of the females abdomen. Females can grow to 70mm in length, the males are very small at 30mm. Adult Males wings covers and passes the abdomen, which makes it an excellent flier.

Their colour is a mixture of browns and grays with the very rare occasion of a green type! They have large pink coloured beady eyes - excellent for hunting prey.

When threatened, they open and stretch out there arms to show a bright colour of orange/yellow. Wings are opened on the adults to appear larger then they are, showing a dark colour of black/red.

African Praying Mantis

The African Praying Mantis is medium sized and typical mantis appearance. They range in shades of browns and greens depending on the species and humidity levels

As the name suggests they can be found throughout most of Africa.

Being a medium to large Mantis, the adult size varies from 60 - 80mm in length (Dependent on the species and sex). Both sexes are capably of flight when adults, but the female become to heavy with eggs that they mealy jump instead of flighing

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