Blepharopsis mendica
Thistle mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Blepharopsis mendica |
| Common name: | Thistle mantis / Egyptian flower mantis / Arab mantis |
| Verbreitung: | Northafrica, Southwest Asian, Turkey, Canary Islands |
| Distribution: | Dry forests, rocks and semi deserts |
| Size: | Females ~ 6 cm Males ~ 5,5 cm |
| Livespan: | Female up to 1,5 years Male up to 1 year |
| Colour variations: | Basics white with brown, turquoise or green mesh pattern |
| Aggressivity: | Middle* |
| Difficulty: | Middle (heat-loving) |
*up to L4/L5 group-housing possible (males until adulthood also in groups)
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Empusidae |
| Subfamily: | Blepharodinae |
| Genus: | Empusini |
Subspecies of this species (similar housing and appearance):
- Unterart Blepharopsis mendica mendica FABRICIUS (1775)
- Unterart Blepharopsis mendica nuda GIGLIO-TOSS (1917)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 20 x 20 x 20 cm
- Group-housing: from 30 x 30 x 40 cm for 3 - 4 adults
- Small nymphs can be reared in smaller enclosures (for moulting they need twice their body length free space downwards)
Temperature:
Days 30 - 40 °C, nights room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative humidity:
~ 30 - 40 %, sometimes 60 % with good ventilation. Spray very rarely!
Set-up:
- Substrate: Soil, sand, kitchen paper, gravel, coco humus etc. (animals seldom stay on the ground)
- Branches (also horizontal/bent) with ~ 0,5 - 1,0 cm diameter. Due to missing adhesion organs at the tarsae of this genus the animals cannot hold on flat surfaces. Make sure they can climb on branches to the top!
- Gaze under the lid recommended. Do not use metal gaze because this can damage their claws!
- Living or artificial plants (Beware of pesticides!)
- Clean with vinegar or biodegradable glass cleaner (afterwards rinse with clear water)
Feeding Recommendation
| L1 | Small fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) |
| L2/L3 | Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) |
| L4/L5 | Greenbottle flies |
| L6 to adult | Green- and Bluebottle flies |
This species also feeds on crawling insects like crickets/roaches etc.
Gender Determination
In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea).
Außerdem
- subadult/adult: Antennae of males much thicker (feathered) then of females
- from L3/L4: Females have 5 visible abdominal appendances ("spines at the belly"), males 6 appendances (and last one usually smaller)
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females in L9, males in L8
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 7 -10 days
Females ~ 10 - 14 days
Copulation duration:
~ 2 - 6 hours
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: up to 2,0 cm
Form: roundish & long (box-shaped) covered in fine foam, with small thread at the end
Colour: light brown/yellowish
Oviposition place: thick branches or flat surfaces
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 14 days
Interval: ~ 10 days
Amount: up to 10 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 4 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity ~ 30 - 50 % (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 60 (average 30)
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 4 mm
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
This species needs a hot and dry environment. It is often called the "small sister" of Idolomantis diabolica, whereas Blepharopsis mendica can also be fed with crawling insects like grasshoppers and crickets.
Animals of Turkey and the Canary Islands need a diapause for proper development (~ 15 - 20°C in the subadult stage over some weeks with higher humdity and shorter light duration of ~ 6 - 8 hours a day).
The animals bred by M&m Wüst originate from constant warm regions and therefore do not need a diapause.
Sources
- Own expercience
Often available in the shop.
