Heterochaeta orientalis
African giant stick mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Heterochaeta orientalis |
| Common name: | African giant stick mantis |
| Distribution: | Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania |
| Habitat: | Branches and shrubs |
| Size: | Female up to 15 cm Male little less |
| Livespan: | Female up to 2 years Male up to 1.5 years |
| Colour variations: | None |
| Aggressivity: | Low* |
| Difficulty: | Middle (needs a lot of space) |
*Group-keeping in all stages possible (However, cannibalism always possible! Especially adult females always feed well.
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Genus: | Heterochaeta |
More species of this genus (similar housing and appearance):
- Heterochaeta occidentalis
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 30 x 30 x 40 cm
- Group-housing: from 40 x 40 x 50 cm for 2 paires
- Small nymphs can be reared in smaller enclosures (for moulting they need twice their body length free space downwards)
Two ventilation areas (gaze at top + front) adviced to prevent waterglogging.
Temperature:
Day 25 – 30 °C, night room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative humidity:
Days ~ 40 – 60 %, nights higher
Set-up:
- Substrate: Soil, sand, kitchen paper, gravel, coco humus etc. (animals seldom stay on the ground)
- Branches (also horizontal/bent)
- 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-L4 | Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) |
| L4-L6 | Greenbottle flies |
| L7 to adult | Bluebottle flies |
Gender Determination
In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea).
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females in L10, males in L9
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 3 weeks
Females ~ 4 weeks
Copulation duration:
–
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: up to 4 cm
Form: flat/roundish with long string at the end
Colour: grey
Oviposition place: thick branches or bark
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 4 weeks
Interval: ~14 days
Amount: up to 8 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 4 – 6 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 50
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 10 mm
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
The African giant stick mantis is one of the very large species. Despite her impressive size, in comparison, they only capture relatively small food animals (preferably flying insects). So they are good for group keeping. It rarely comes to cannibalism. With dryness this species copes well, but every two to three days spray the animals and their environment so that they can drink enough water. Especially small nymphal stages (up to L3) are still stuck in their skin, if too rarely sprayed / too low air humidity prevails.
Sources
- Own expercience
Often available in the shop.
Pictures
