Pseudocreobotra ocellata
African flower mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii |
| Common name: | African flower mantis |
| Distribution: | South and West Africa |
| Habitat: | Trees, shrubs and meadows in humid areas |
| Size: | Females ~ 3 cm Males ~ 2,5 cm |
| Livespan: | Females ~ 1 year Males less than 1 year |
| Colour variations: | White with light yellow, pink or green variations (nymphs) |
| Aggressivity: | Middle* |
| Difficulty: | Middle |
*up to L3/L4 group-housing possible (males in adult stages also in groups)
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Hymenopodidae |
| Subfamily: | Hymenopodinae |
| Tribe: | Hymenopodini |
| Genus: | Pseudocreobotra |
First description (year): PALISTOT DE BEAUVOIS (1805)
More species of this genus (similar housing and appearance):
- Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii (STÅL, 1871)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 20 x 20 x 20 cm
- Group-housing: from 30 x 30 x 30 cm for 3 – 4 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:
Days 28 – 35 °C, nights room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative Luftfeuchte:
Days ~ 50 – 60 %, spray every or 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 ~ 0,5 cm diameter
- 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) |
| L2/L3 | Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) |
| L4-L6 | Greenbottle flies |
| L6 to adult | Green- and Bluebottle flies |
Gender Determination
In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea).
Additionally:
- 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 L8, males in L7
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 2 weeks
Females ~ 3 weeks
Copulation duration:
~ 30 min
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: up to 5 cm
Form: long and flat
Colour: brown
Oviposition place: thin branches
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 4 – 5 weeks
Interval: ~ 7 – 14 days
Amount: up to 6 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 4 – 5 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 80
Size freshly hatched (L1): ~ 4 mm
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
Smaller grown P. wahlbergii get often confused with P. ocellata gehalten. However, P. ocellata is very seldom kept in captivity these days.
Sources
- www.mantisonline.de (July 2017)
