Hierodula patellifera

Scientific name:	Hierodula patellifera
Common name:	Asian mantis / Indochina mantis
Distribution:	Soth- & Southeast Asia
Habitat:	Trees and shrubs
Size:	Female ~ 7 cm Male ~ 6 cm
Livespan:	Female ~ 1,5 years Male ~ 1 year
Colour variations:	Light green, turquoise or brown
Aggressivity:	High*
Difficulty:	Easy

*up to L3/L4 group-housing possible (males in adult stages also in groups)

Order:	Mantodea
Family:	Mantidae
Subfamily:	Mantinae
Tribe:	Paramantini
Genus:	Hierodula

First description (year): SERVILLE (1839)

More species of this genus (similar housing and appearance):

Hierodula majuscula TINDALE (1923)
Hierodula membranacea BURMEISTER (1838)

Species is suitable for free-range keeping

Enclosure (LxWxH):

Single-housing: from 20 x 20 x 20 cm
Group-housing: from 30 x 30 x 30 cm for ~ 3 adult males
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 21 – 30 °C, night room temperature (below 18°C no problem)

Relative humidity:
~ 40 – 60 %, spray every second day

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)

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.

Feeder insects in the shop…

In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea).

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 ~ 2 weeks
Females ~ 3 weeks

Copulation duration:
~ 1- 5 hours

Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: ~ 2 cm
Form: round/oval
Colour: brown
Oviposition place: branches
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 4 weeks
Interval: ~ 10 – 14 days
Amount: up to 8 oothecae

Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 4 – 5 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 150
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 5 mm

All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!

This species is like the “small sister” of Hierodula membranacea. Also a beginners species with the typical green colour and shape of a praying mantis. However, it reaches only a body lenght of about 7 cm. So they have the perfect size for the Mantis-Cube in all instars.

Females also suitable for free-range keeping.

Different to Hierodula membranacea: Hierodula patellifera has white spots at their inner forearms (coxae) – clearly visible from presub stages.

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