© Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0Japanese Giant Mantis
The Japanese Giant Mantis is the largest mantis species found on mainland Japan, appearing in both green and brown color forms. Its distinctive features include a bright yellow patch at the base of the forelegs and hind wings tinged with purple-brown, giving each individual its own look. Fierce by nature, it strikes at anything that moves with its sharp, raptorial forelegs. The egg case laid in autumn hatches all at once come spring, releasing around 200 tiny nymphs in a striking natural spectacle. Rated beginner-friendly, it's a popular entry point into insect keeping and a classic subject for nature observation.
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Japanese Giant Mantis key facts
- Care level
- Beginner-friendly
- Lifespan
- One generation a year; adults appear around August-October and captive females live to late December
- Size
- Males 70-90mm, females 80-95mm
- Temperature
- 20〜25℃
- Diet
- Live insects (crickets, grasshoppers, butterflies; fruit flies and aphids for nymphs)
- Temperature & Humidity
- Active at 20-25C; avoid conditions above 30C. Place in a bright spot out of direct sun and air-conditioner draughts, and mist every few days so it can lick droplets, since dryness causes moulting failures.
- Breeding & Egg-laying
- Mates in autumn, and the female lays several oothecae of about 200 eggs. Store oothecae outdoors or in a cold room; a warm room makes them hatch in winter. 100-300 nymphs emerge together in April-May. Introduce the male while the female is eating and separate them afterwards.
- Cohabitation
- Carnivorous and cannibalistic, so house one per container. Keep only as many hatchlings as can be cared for and release the rest where the ootheca was collected.
- Lifespan & Rearing Period
- One generation a year, overwintering as eggs. Nymphs moult several times and mature in summer; adults are active August-October and captive females live to late December. In the wild only two or three per ootheca reach adulthood.
- Health & Notes
- Emergence needs a case about 20cm tall with perches; without footing the moult fails. Watch for horsehair worms and for dermestid beetles and parasitic wasps on oothecae. It ignores motionless food but takes prey moved with forceps.
About Japanese Giant Mantis
The Japanese Giant Mantis is mainland Japan's largest mantis, found in green and brown forms. Its autumn egg case hatches all at once in spring, releasing around 200 nymphs, and it's a beginner-friendly species popular for nature observation.
7 things to know before welcoming a Japanese Giant Mantis
1Males and Females Differ in Size
Males grow to about 70-90mm while females reach 80-95mm, making females noticeably larger. Adjust the size of the prey you offer as the mantis grows.
2Keep Them Alone
Mantises will cannibalize one another, so housing multiple individuals in the same container leads to fighting. Keep each one in its own enclosure from the nymph stage through adulthood.
3Live Food Is a Must
Since it only reacts to moving prey, you'll need a steady supply of live insects such as crickets. It will not respond to artificial food.
4Provide a Tall Enclosure
When molting, the mantis hangs upside down and stretches out its body, so a tall enclosure with branches to grip is important to have ready.
5Don't Disturb During Molting
An unstable perch or sudden disturbance can cause a failed molt. When you notice signs of molting approaching, keep the surroundings calm and quiet.
6Adults Emerge Aug-Oct
This species completes one generation per year, with adults typically appearing from around August to October. In captivity, females have been known to survive until late December.
7Eggs Hatch Together in Spring
Egg cases laid in autumn overwinter and hatch all at once in spring, releasing around 200 nymphs. It helps to have individual enclosures ready before hatching begins.
Frequently asked questions about Japanese Giant Mantis
- Q.What should I feed a Japanese Giant Mantis?
- A.Live insects such as crickets are the main food source. Since it only reacts to moving prey, it won't eat artificial food, so adjust the prey size to match its growth stage.
- Q.Can I keep multiple mantises together?
- A.No, they will cannibalize each other, so multiple mantises should not share a container. Keep each one in its own enclosure from the nymph stage through adulthood.
- Q.How long does the adult stage last?
- A.This species completes one generation per year, with adults typically appearing from August to October. In captivity, females have been known to live until late December.
- Q.When do the nymphs hatch from the egg case?
- A.Egg cases laid in autumn overwinter outdoors and hatch all at once in spring. Around 200 nymphs emerge from a single egg case.
- Q.Is this species suitable for beginners?
- A.Yes, it is generally considered beginner-friendly to keep. That said, you'll still need to manage the basics, such as supplying live food and housing each mantis separately.
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