A
fantastically vibrant species as adult, bearing a multicoloured
eye on the wing case, and a small number 9 on the side of
the abdomen.
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The Spiny Flower Mantis has an array of colours on its
body and wing case, from light brown, to green, to red,
to blue, and mixes of each. The main colours are only
really displayed as adult, in males and females, on
the wing case. Both sexes possess fully grown wing cases,
with the same patterning. However, the male is slightly
shorter than the females, and much more slender. Sex
determination is the usual, 8 segments for the male,
and 6 or 7 for the female. Antennae are very similar,
so this may be an inaccurate way of sex determination.
However, the male does possess slightly longer antennae,
but this length difference will only be visible from
L5 upwards. You will also notice that the female will
have small, rubbery spines exposed around the edge of
her wing case, however, the male will not. The Pseudocreobotra
is a fairly small species, growing from 4-5 cm in length.
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Pseudocreobotra
Wahlbergii |
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The Spiny Flower Mantis is native Africa, East to
South. In these areas, temperatures can reach high
of around 35c. In captivity, they are best kept at
around 25-30c. This temperature can be stimulated
with a heat mat, or the enclosure can be sat on top
of a heated enclosure. In the summer, this extra heat
is not usually needed, but must be used for the colder
months. Humidity is not essential, although this species
does like to drink. Spraying around 2-3 times a week
will provide enough moisture and humidity.
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Pseudocreobotra
Wahlbergii |
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The Pseudocreobotra is prone to mould, and fungal infection,
so a ventilated enclosure is essential. There are various
different ways of creating a ventilated enclosure, the
easiest by simply using a tank, with a ventilated lid.
Some enclosures will have a mesh back to them, which
is also great to use. Furnishing must be used, as this
species likes to hide in between flowers, twigs, and
any other form of cover. You will find they sit in the
same perch for long periods of time, sometimes even
days Don’t make the enclosure to large, as they
do not hunt for their food, they are more of a sit and
wait species. It will need to be up to three times the
height of the mantis, for shedding purposes, and the
tank must not be to clogged with foliage, to allow room
to hang down whilst shedding.
Living on plants in
their natural habitat, the Pseudocreobtra will eat mainly
flying, pollinating insects. It is best to stimulate
this in the UK, by providing them with flies, moths,
and any other flying insect. If you cannot use these,
then a mixture of crickets, locusts, wax worms, mealworms,
and any other live food available in captivity will
be okay. You will find that once you have put the food
in the enclosure, it will be eaten fairly quickly. This
is a ferocious species, and anything that walks past,
will not be left. The only time you will find this species
not to be interested in food, will be just before it
is shedding (where it will remain in the same place
for a long period of time, and wing buds will inflate.)
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Pseudocreobotra
Wahlbergii |
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The Spiny Flower Mantis is a wonderful species for any
hobbyist. It is not hard to care for, so easy for the
beginner, and one of the most beautiful of all species,
and something that might be of interest to any collection.
The only reason I would say this species would be a
drawback as a starter mantis, is because it does not
like to be handled, and can have quite a nasty bite
when it spots a wondering finger!
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