There are estimated to be over 2,400 different species of praying mantis in the world.
While only a small proportion of these are regularly encountered in the pet trade, there are a growing number of fanatics (myself included!) who think they make incredible pets.
Whether it’s their hunting abilities, their alien-like body shape and way of moving, or simply the pleasure of observing such a creature close up, if you’re looking for advice on keeping praying mantis as pets then you’ve come to the right place!
The term “African mantis” tends to refer to a closely-related group of praying mantis. All from the genus Sphodromantis, you may find species for sale including Sphodromantis centralis, Sphodromantis lineola and Sphodromantis viridis. The care of each of these species is near-identical in my experience, and as many specimens are misidentified by sellers it makes …
There’s no denying that praying mantis are fascinating animals, but do they make good pets? The answer is really that it depends on what you want from a pet. In this article we’ll look at both the good things about keeping praying mantis as pets, as well as the downsides you should consider before getting …
Mantis religiosa, known more commonly as the European Mantis, is considered to be one of the most widely distributed mantis species of all. According to the IUCN it can be found on all contintents “except Antarctica and South America”. The European mantis has a traditional appearance, and can be found in both green and brown …
Praying mantis are still quite an unusual pet, so you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that you local pet store is unlikely to sell specialist praying mantis cages. Instead, the praying mantis keeper must be willing to think creatively, and to reuse other containers to create a suitable cage for their mantids. In this article, …
If you’re lucky enough to live in an area where praying mantis run wild then you may eventually stumble across an egg case – also known as an “ootheca” – and fancy trying to hatch the baby praying mantids. Alternatively, if like me you live somewhere without wild praying mantis (big up the UK!) then …
One common observation when looking at praying mantis is that they look so “alien”. If that is true then Idolomantis diabolica, the so-called Giant Devil’s Flower Mantis, is the most alien-like of all. Idolomantis diabolica is a huge praying mantis. Some people suggest it is one of the largest known to science. The adults are …
If you’ve been lucky enough to watch a praying mantis going about it’s day then an obvious question is: “is it safe to hold a praying mantis?”. In this article we’re going to answer that exact question, and go into some specific do’s and don’ts. Before we get into the nitty gritty details the quick …
The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) is a stunning species, broadly distributed across Africa and Madagascar. The name itself means “leaf head”, and it’s hardly difficult to see why. These cryptic praying mantids do an amazing job of avoiding predators by resembling plants. Not only is there an unusual leaf-like projection on the top of the …
Praying mantis are some of the most fascinating invertebrates to look after. With their moving neck and huge bug eyes, not to mention their specially-adapted front legs, mantis look almost like aliens from outer space. Fortunately keeping praying mantis as pets needn’t be difficult when you follow a few simple rules. Introduction to Keeping Praying …
The orchid mantis is one of the world’s most beautiful – and recognisable – praying mantids. Famed for their unique flower-like appearance, the adult mantids vary in colour between a pure white through to rich pinks and purples. With their rounded abdomens, spiked heads and petal-like protrusions on the legs it is little wonder that …
Coming from the warmer areas of the world, most praying mantis require a warm cage in order to flourish. In this guide we’ll look at suitable temperatures for praying mantis in captivity, and how to provide this warmth safely and cheaply. By the end you should know all you need to in order to keep …
Praying mantis are carnivorous predators. In the wild praying mantis will eat almost anything they can safely capture. Being diurnal predators (active by day) that primarily use their powerful sense of vision to capture prey their most common foodstuffs are invertebrates of varying types. Small vertebrates may also be eaten when the opportunity arises, including …
