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
- i6-i9: Blue Bottles, Small-Medium Roaches, Hoppers, Waxmoths
Enclosure
Zilla enclosures work well if properly modified with mesh. Make sure any added mesh is taut and not loose. DIY setups are also popular because of this. When making a setup, try to add cross ventilation. When decorating your setup, avoid clutter and low hanging branches to prevent mismolts. Enclosures should be at least 2 times as wide as the mantis is long and 3 times as tall as the mantis is long. This will give them space to molt.These mantises may do better when molting to adulthood on an incline rather than a horizontal surface, such as a mesh pyramid, as they are used to molting on grasses and other field plants. Large adult females may need a bigger setup than a 32oz.
Here are some guidelines:
- 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.