© Fungus Guy / CC BY-SA 4.0Banded Flower Mantis
The Banded Flower Mantis is a striking flower mantis native to Southeast Asia. Its name comes from the wide white band running across its forewings, paired with green-and-white mottled patterning and vivid orange hindwings. Newly hatched first-instar nymphs are colored red and black, mimicking ants for protection as they grow. Males and females differ noticeably in size, with females reaching up to about 5cm. Watching one lie in wait among flowers for its prey has a quiet intensity that suits keepers who already have some mantis-keeping experience.
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Banded Flower Mantis key facts
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- Males up to 6 months, females up to 1 year
- Size
- Females up to about 5cm, males about 3cm (some sources give 3.5cm and 1.5cm)
- Temperature
- 24-30°C (room temperature is fine at night)
- Humidity
- 50〜70%
- Diet
- Fruit flies (nymphs), house and bottle flies, small crickets and roaches
- Temperature & Humidity
- Keep to 24-30C, allowing nights to fall to room temperature. Hold humidity at 50-70% with misting about once a day, and ventilate so the enclosure does not become stale.
- Breeding & Egg-laying
- Attempt breeding once the female has been mature for three to four weeks and the male for about a week. Feed the female well before pairing. Keep the ootheca at the same temperature and humidity as the adults and guard against mould.
- Cohabitation
- Like mantises generally it is cannibalistic, so house individuals singly. Allow them together only briefly for supervised pairing.
- Lifespan & Rearing Period
- Males live up to six months and females up to a year. Enlarge the enclosure with each instar: about 5 x 5cm for instars one to three, 8 x 8cm for four to six, and from the seventh instar roughly 10 x 10cm for males and 10 x 15cm for females.
- Health & Notes
- Feed D. melanogaster at instars one and two; D. hydei, pinhead crickets or roaches and house flies at three to five; and house flies, green or blue bottle flies and small crickets or roaches from the sixth instar. Give mealworms only as an occasional treat. Its specific requirements make it a poor first mantis.
About Banded Flower Mantis
A Southeast Asian flower mantis known for the white band across its forewings and vivid orange hindwings. Nymphs mimic ants, and males and females differ notably in size — a species suited to intermediate keepers.
7 things to know before welcoming a Banded Flower Mantis
1Nymphs Mimic Ants
Newly hatched first-instar nymphs are colored red and black, mimicking ants to avoid predators. They look very different from the adults and are small enough to slip through case gaps or ventilation mesh, so check enclosures carefully.
2The Band That Gives It Its Name
The wide white band crossing the forewings gives this mantis its "banded" name. It combines green-and-white mottling with vivid orange hindwings. Even siblings from the same egg case can differ in tone, appearing red, green or yellow, and some change color within about a week.
3Males and Females Differ in Size
Females grow larger than males, reaching up to about 5cm. Lifespans differ too: males live up to about 6 months, females up to about a year.
4Best Kept Individually
Mantises are aggressive and prone to cannibalism, so it's best to house each individual in its own separate enclosure. Housing them together also risks the female preying on the male.
5Watch for Molting Trouble
They grow by molting repeatedly through each life stage. Molting leaves them vulnerable, so keep the enclosure calm and provide sturdy perches or mesh they can grip securely.
6Needs Live Insect Prey
As a predator that feeds on live insects such as fruit flies, houseflies and small crickets or roaches, you'll need a steady supply of live feeder insects on hand. Young nymphs start on fruit flies; adjust the type and size of prey to match the mantis's growth stage.
7Suited to Intermediate Keepers
The Banded Flower Mantis is considered suited to intermediate keepers. Having some basic insect-keeping experience — enclosure setup, perches, humidity management — will help things go smoothly.
Frequently asked questions about Banded Flower Mantis
- Q.Can beginners keep this species?
- A.The Banded Flower Mantis is considered suited to intermediate keepers. Some prior insect-keeping experience will make it easier to care for.
- Q.How long does it live?
- A.Males live up to about 6 months, while females live up to about a year, so the two sexes differ noticeably in how long you'll keep them.
- Q.Is it true that males and females differ in size?
- A.Yes. Females grow larger than males, reaching up to about 5cm, and their lifespans differ as well.
- Q.What should I feed it?
- A.Feed it live insects such as fruit flies, houseflies and blowflies, and small crickets or roaches. As a carnivore it needs live prey; young nymphs start on fruit flies, and the type and size are adjusted to match the growth stage.
- Q.Are there any legal restrictions on buying or keeping it?
- A.The Banded Flower Mantis is not subject to CITES.
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Learn more about Banded Flower Mantis in the encyclopedia
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Care difficulty, lifespan, size and diet — all basics covered.
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