Plistospilota guineensis
Giant mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Plistospilota guineensis |
| Common name: | Giant mantis |
| Distribution: | Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia |
| Habitat: | Shrubs and bushes |
| Size: | Female up to 11 cm Male up to 9 cm |
| Livespan: | Female up to 2 years Male up to 1,5 years |
| Colour variations: | None |
| Aggressivity: | High* |
| Difficulty: | Middle (space-intensive) |
*up to L4/L5 group-housing possible
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Subfamily: | Mantinae |
| Tribe: | Polyspilotini |
| Genus: | Plistospilota |
First description (year): (ROY, 1965)
More species of this genus (similar keeping and appearance):
- Plistospilota congica (GIGLIO-TOS, 1917)
- Plistospilota maxima (GIGLIO-TOS, 1917)
- Plistospilota nova (BEIER, 1930)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 30 x 30 x 40 cm
- 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:
Days 25 – 30 °C, nights room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative humidity:
Days ~ 50 – 60 %, nights higher
Set-up:
- Substrate: Soil, sand, gravel, coco humus etc. (animals sometimes stay on the ground)
- Thick 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/L2 | Small fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) |
| L3 | Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) and Greenbottle flies |
| L4/L5 | Greenbottle flies |
| L6 bis adult | 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).
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females & males in L10
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 4 weeks
Females ~ 5 weeks
Copulation duration:
~ 5 hours
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: up to 5 cm
Form: round/oval
Colour: brown-gray
Oviposition place: thick branches or bark
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 6 weeks
Interval: ~ 14 – 20 days
Amount: up to 4 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 4 – 8 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 250
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 5 mm
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
This species is one of the largest species in breeding and it also overwhelms large food animals such as grasshoppers and cockroaches.
Although they have a delicate appearance as larvae, they should be kept separate early because of cannibalism.
Sources
- Own experience
- www.mantisonline.de (February 2018)
Often available in the shop.
Pictures
