Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid mantis)

Sold as unsexed nymphs L3/L4.

Description:

Origin: South east asia                                            Temperature: 25c to 30c.                  Humidity: 60% to 80%.                              Lifespan: Females upto 8 months, Males upto 5/6 months

Feeding

L1/L2 Nymphs: should be fed on D.melanogaster fruit flies.                              L3/L4 Nymphs: should be fed on D. hydei fruit flies.                                                                       L5 Nymphs/Adult: should be fed on Green bottle flies and Blue bottle flies, butterflies or moths.                                                                      Nymphs should be fed every other day.       Adults should be fed every 5 days

Orchid mantis prefer to eat flying insects 

Housing

 Like all mantids, house in an enclosure at least 3 times the size of the mantis in hight and 2 time the size of the mantis in width

Size

Females grow to 6/7cm and males grow to 2.5cm

Sexing

when it comes to sexing mantids, females have 6 segments on their abdomen where as males have 8 segments on their abdomen.                      Orchid mantis have a few ways of determining there sex. Females have large leaf like lobes on their legs, the abdomen on a female is rounder and has 6 segments. Females also have a green collar on their back, they also develop a horn between their eyes.                                              Males have small leaf like lobes on their legs, the abdomen on males is more oval shape and has 8 segments. male orchids have a brown collar on their back, they are also better flyers 

Moulting

Mantids moult a number of times during their life. Make sure the enclosure has enough vertical space for them to hang during moults. They may refuse food a day or two before moulting.Do not handle them immediately after moulting as the exoskeleton takes up to 48 hours to harden after moulting to prevent mismoults mist at least twice a day.