Rhombodera basalis
Shield mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Rhombodera basalis |
| Common name: | Shield mantis (with others) |
| Distribution: | India, Thailand, Malaysia, Java |
| Habitat: | Trees and bushes |
| Size: | Female up to 10 cm Male up to 9 cm |
| Livespan: | Female up to 2 years Male up to 1,5 year |
| Colour variations: | None |
| Aggressivity: | High* |
| Difficulty: | Middle |
*up to L2 group-housing possible
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Subfamily: | Mantinae |
| Tribe: | Paramantini |
| Genus: | Rhombodera |
More species of this genus (similar housing and appearance):
- Rhombodera valida
- Rhombodera crassa (GIGLIO-TOS, 1912)
- Rhombodera flava (DE HAAN, 1842)
- Rhombodera megaera (REHN, 1903)
- Rhombodera zhangi (BANG & DONG, 1993)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 30 x 30 x 30 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 22 - 25 °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) with ~ 2 - 4 cm diameter + bark
- 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).
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females and males in L10
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 3 weeks
Females ~ 4 weeks
Copulation duration:
min. 6 hours
Oothecae (egg-cases)
Size: up to 4 cm
Form: round with pointy end
Colour: light brown
Oviposition place: thick branches and bark
First ooth after adult moult: ~ 6 weeks
Interval: ~ 2 - 3 weeks
Amount: up to 4 oothecae
Incubation and hatch
Duration: ~ 6-8 weeks
Temperatures like animals (see above), rel. humidity over 50% (with good ventilation)
Nymph quantity: up to 200
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 has the typical appearance of shield mantids (with big neck shield). It is hardly distiguishable from Rhombodera valida. However, R. vailda is supposed to have a broader neck shield (pronotum).
It is a very aggressive species which also catches prey the same size as themselves (cockroaches etc.). Group-keeping is not recommended!
Sources
- Own expercience
- www.mantisonline.de (October 2017)
Often available in the shop.
