Asian Flower Mantis (Creobroter apicalis)
Size
3-5cm (1.25-2in)
Moisture
50-60% Spray daily
Temperature
21-28°C (70-83°F)
Sexing
Individuals can be sexed by counting abdomen segments from i4 onwards. Females will have 6 and males will have 8. i5 onwards it's very easy to tell females from males because females have a very prominent ovipositor.
Lifespan
After molting to adult, females will last 6-8 months. Males generally last only 2-3 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
Males can molt to adulthood between i7 and i8, while females will molt to adulthood between i8 and i9. There will generally be an instar difference, but not always.
Feeding
Feeding is easy as these are a very agressive species and willing to hunt down their prey. Males tend to be slightly more skittish than females when it comes to feeding.
- i1-i3: D. melanogaster, D. hydei
- i4-i6: D. hydei, house flies, pantry moths, small roaches
- i6-i9: Waxmoths, green/blue bottle flies, small roaches
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.
Here are some guidelines:
- i1-i3: 5.5oz deli container
- i4-i5: 16oz deli container
- i6-i8: 32oz deli container
Other Info:
These mantises partially mimic flowers and may change color drastically between molts.