Common hobby species: Creobroter gemmatus, C. urbanus, C. pictipennis, C. apicalis
Common names: Asian Flower Mantis, Indian Flower Mantis, Malaysian Flower Mantis, Jeweled Flower Mantis, etc.
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: males up to 1.5” (3.5cm); females up to 2” (4cm)
Lifespan: males up to 1 year; females up to 1.5 years
Recommended enclosure size by instar:
– 1i-3i: 2oz deli cup (2×2″/5×5cm)
– 4i-6i: 5.5/8oz deli cup (3×3″/8×8cm)
– 7i-adult: 32oz deli cup or similar sized enclosure (4.5×6″/12×15cm)
Humidity: 50-80%, mist every other day or so for hydration
Temperature: 70-82°F (21-28°C)
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: D. melanogaster or D. hydei fruit flies
– 3i-5i: D. hydei fruit flies, house flies, green bottle flies, small roaches, small crickets
– 6i-adult: house flies, blue bottle flies, small/medium roaches, small/medium crickets, waxworms/moths, mealworms(only as treats)
Breeding:
Both sexes are ready to breed in around 2 weeks after molting. The females tend to be very aggressive so ensure she is very well fed. Try to feed the male sparingly as they will overeat which can make them unable to connect with the females.
Females lay up to 8 ooths starting around 3-4 weeks after maturing. These ooths can hatch anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks when kept at the same parameters as mantises. They hatch 50-80 nymphs each.
Other Resources:
Mantids & More – Lexicon – Creobroter gemmatus
Panterra Pets – Creobroter pictipennis
Mantis Monarch – Creobroter pictipennis