Pseudempusa pinnapavonis
Peacock mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Pseudempusa pinnapavonis |
| Common name: | Peacock mantis |
| Distribution: | Myanmar, Thailand |
| Habitat: | Trees and bushes |
| Size: | Female up to 10 cm Male up to 8,5 cm |
| Livespan: | Female up to 2 year Male up to 1,5 year |
| Colour variations: | None |
| Aggressivity: | Middle* |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
*up to L4/L5 group-housing possible (males in adult stages also in groups)
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Subfamily: | Miomantinae |
| Tribe: | Riventinini |
| Genus: | Pseudempusa |
First description (year): BRUNNER VON WATTENWYL (1892)
More species of this genus (similar housing and appearance):
- Pseudempusa pavonina (GIGLIO-TOS, 1916)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 20 x 20 x 30 cm
- Group-housing: from 20 x 20 x 20 cm for ~ 10 L4 nymphs
- 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 22 - 28 °C, nights room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative humidity:
Days ~ 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) with ~ 1 - 2 cm diameter
- 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 | 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:
- from L5: eye-dot at inner fang arms (coxae) of males black, of females red
- adult: Males thin with wings reaching over abdominal end (good flyers), wings of females shorter than abdomen. Top of male abdomen strongly red.
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females in L10, Females in L9
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Geschlechtsreif nach Adulthäutung:
Males ~ 2 weeks
Females ~ 3 weeks
Copulation duration:
up to 10 hours
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: ~ 4 cm
Form: round with small hole at the end
Colour: yellowish / light brown
Oviposition place: -
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 4 - 8 weeks
Interval: ~ 3 - 4 weeks
Amount: up to 5 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 6 - 8 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 160 (average 100)
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 1 cm
Beware: Hatching larvae lower themselves down up to 10 cm from the ootheca (incubate in high containers!)
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
The peacock mantis P. pinnapavonis has a breathtaking display. On each inner wing there is a huge shimmering spot (there it got its name from). This is seen when animals feel in danger and show these wings. Additionally, females can stridulate with their wings.
Sources
- Own expercience
- www.mantisonline.de (July 2017)
- www.swissmantis.ch (November 2007) Website not available anymore
