European Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

Size

Females up to 9cm (3.5in)

Males up to 7cm (2.7in)

Moisture

Higher humidity for i1-i3, Spray daily

For i4+, 50% humidity, Spray every other day.

Temperature

26.6-32.2°C (80-90°F)

Sexing

After i4, females will have a clearly defined 6 segments, while males will have 8. Adult males are very thin with long antennae while females are very stocky.

Lifespan

After molting to adult, females will last 6-8 months. Males generally last only 2-4 months. Lifespans can often vary due to things such as diet, rate of feeding, and temperature. The colder it is, the slower they grow.

Instars

This species can molt to adulthood between i7 and i9. Males generally mature one instar earlier than females.

Feeding

This species is very aggressive and is not picky about prey. Feed them often to encourage growth.

i1-i3: D. melanogaster, D. hydei, Micro Roaches

i4-i6: House flies, Waxmoths, Small Roaches, Crickets

i6-i9: Blue Bottles, Small-Medium Roaches, Hoppers, Waxmoths, Crickets

Enclosure

i1-i3: 5.5oz deli container

i4-i5: 16oz deli container

i6-i9: 32-80oz deli container

Other Info

The European Mantis can be found on all continents except Antarctica. They are an incredibly cannibalistic species. Do not cohabitate them and separate nymphs early. A newly hatched ootheca can experience cannibalism in as little as 12 hours after hatching. Cannibalism during pairing is a common occurrence in this species. Oothecae need diapause, a chill period, over the winter to hatch. This can be simulated in a fridge.