Spiny Flower Mantis

The spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) is a small flower mantis found from South Africa through Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda, reaching about 4cm as an adult. Spiny structures on the underside of the abdomen give it its name. It is typically light green but may be tinted yellow, pink or red. Each forewing carries a large black, green and cream eyespot ringed by a green patch; the inner hindwings are orange and the outer ones transparent. Nymphs are black until the third instar. It is a convincing flower mimic, seizing pollinators that approach it as a blossom, and spreads its forewings in a deimatic display when startled, though how readily varies between individuals. Females have six or seven abdominal segments, longer wings and mature after seven moults; males have eight segments, longer and thicker antennae and mature after six. Excess moisture invites fatal infection, so mist about three times a week and maintain good ventilation. It cannot handle large prey, so feed mainly moths and flies. Nymphs can share a cage until the fourth instar, after which they turn cannibalistic. An ootheca yields 30-55 nymphs.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Spiny Flower Mantis lives Adults 2-4 months.

The Spiny Flower Mantis grows to About 4cm (females larger and broader).

The ideal temperature for the Spiny Flower Mantis is 26℃. Ideal humidity is 60%.

Keep at about 26C with humidity around 60%.