Common hobby species: Tenodera sinensis, T. angustipennis
Common name(s): Chinese Mantis (T. sinensis), Narrow-wing Mantis (T. angustipennis)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Size: both sexes about 4” (10cm)
Lifespan: Males up to 6-8 months; females up to 1 year
Recommended enclosure size by instar:
– 1i-3i: 2oz/5.5oz deli cup (2×2″/5×5cm)
– 4i-6i: 5.5oz/16oz deli cup (4×4″/10×10cm)
– 7i-adult: 12×12×12″ (30×30×30cm) enclosure minimum
Humidity: 50-60%; mist every other day or so for hydration
Temperature: 70-86°F (21-30°C)
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: D. melanogaster or D. hydei fruit flies
– 3i-5i: house flies, green/blue bottle flies, small cockroaches, small crickets
– 6i-adult: blue bottle flies, medium/large cockroaches, medium/large crickets, wax worm/moths, mealworms (as treats)
Breeding:
Breeding can be attempted when males have been mature for 2 weeks and females have been mature for 3-4 weeks.
Females lay multiple ooths, generally on thin branches, which hatch in 4-5 weeks when kept at the same parameters as the mantises. Each ooth hatches on from 50 to 300 nymphs.
Diapause is not necessary, but is considered to be beneficial and can help delay hatching. This can be done in the fridge or an outdoor unheated structure like a shed. The ooth should be allowed to harden for around 2 weeks before being chilled. Diapause can be done at any temperature below 50°F but generally shouldn’t be below 15-20°F at minimum. The ooth will hatch once it is exposed to temperatures over 60°F consistently for 1-4 weeks
Other notes: This species is very prone to collapsed abdomens and mismolts. If they hang from the lid upside down too often, their abdomen may begin to fold and they will require an enclosure that does not allow them to hang from the top.
Other Resources:
Mantid Forum – Tenodera sinensis