Species

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The species of Mantids range dramatically. They come in a range of shapes sizes are colours and some are much easier to look after than others are. When choosing a Mantis, always buy captive bred species. Although wild captured Mantids are needed to maintain a variety in the gene pool, capturing them depletes the number of Mantids in the wild and they could be damaged or have parasites.

Each different species needs to be kept at different temperatures and humidities because they come from different climates around the world. Some Mantids would require a more varied diet than just crickets. Species such as Flower Mantids feed on nectar-feeding insects, so feeding them just crickets would be inadequate. Below is a table of a small range of species with their scientific names and descriptions. The sizes are only a rough average and many are estimates. Size also varies considerably with gender and age.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Colour	Description	Average Size Male/Female	Temperature (°C) & Humidity
African Mantis	Sphodromantis lineola	Green/ Brown	Large Classic Looking Mantis	65mm/75mm	24°/60%
African Mantis	Sphodromantis centralis	Green/ Brown	Large Classic Looking Mantis	65mm/75mm	24°/60%
Giant Indian Mantis	Hierodula membranacea	Green	Large Green Mantis, Big Appetite	80mm/90mm	25°/70%
Giant Asian Mantis	Hierodula Trimaculata	Green	Large Green Mantis, Big Appetite	80mm/90mm	25°/70%
Philippine Marbled Mantis	Hierodula - (..)	Green/Blue	Blue or Green With Banded Legs	65mm/75mm	25°/70%
Carolina Mantis	Stagmomantis Carolina	Mottled Green	Musty Green Colour	50mm/65mm	24°/60%
Chinese Mantis	Tenodera ardifolia sinensis	Brown/ Green	Classic Looking, Male Has Blue Band on Back	80mm/90mm	24°/60%
Indian Flower Mantis	Creobroter meleagris	Green	Green/white with white spot on back	40mm/50mm	25°/70%
African Flower Mantis	Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi	Green/ White/ Yellow	Striped legs with yellow eye on back (Number 9)	30mm/50mm	25°/70%
Malaysian Orchid Mantis	Hymenopus coronatus	Pink/ White/ Brown	Looks just like an Orchid. Legs look like petals	30mm/65mm	25°/80%
Malaysain Shielded mantis	Hierodula stalli	Green	Large green flat looking Mantis. Shielded Prothorax	85mm	25°/70%
Dead Leaf Mantis	Deroplatys dessicata	Brown/ Yellow	Large leaf looking Prothorax	70mm/80mm	24°/60%
Pebble Mantis	Eremiaphila brunneri	Grey	Very compact looking mantis that looks just like a pebble. It is a desert species and is not suitable for captivity.	~50mm	Desert Temperatures!
Bark Mantis	Tarachodes Afzelii	Grey/ Brown/ White	Camouflaged just like bark on a tree. Unsuitable for captivity.	~60mm	24°/60%
Dead Leaf Mantis	Deroplatys Lobata	Brown	Prothorax looks like a dead leaf	50mm/70mm	24°/60%
Flower Mantis	Theopropus Elegans	Green/ White/ Orange	Attractive flower mantis	30mm/45mm	25°/70%
Rose Mantis	Gongylus Gongulodes	Brown	Long thin thorax with bud like abdomen	75mm/80mm	25°/70%
Flower Mantis	Creobroter Pictipennis	Green/ White/ Brown/Red	Attractive flower mantis. Banded legs	35mm/40mm	25°/70%
Bud-Wing Mantis	Parasphendale Affinis/agriona	Green/ Grey/ Brown	Small bud-like wings	~60mm	24°/60%
Egyptian Mantis	Miomantis Pharaonica/Paykulli	Green	Small typical mantis	~30mm	25°/60%
Boxer Mantis	Hestiasula brunneriana	Brown	Small mantis with large shielded femur	~30mm	24°/60%
Stick Mantis	Empusa Pennata	Light Brown	Brown stick mantis with crest on head	70mm/80mm	25°/60%
Ghost Mantis	Phyllocrania Paradoxa	Brown	Brown dead leaf mantis with crest on head	~50mm	25°/60%
African mantis	Polyspilota Aeruginosa	Brown/ Jade	Large brown or green waxy looking mantis	60mm/70mm	24°/60%

The Temperatures and Humidities are estimated to represent the most appropriate climate for each Mantis
Recommended species for beginners are the Sphodromantis and Hierodula Species as they are most tolerant to varieties of heat, humidity and food.

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