Flower mantises are those species of praying mantises that mimic flowers. For additional information about the Spiny Flower mantis, including breeding and ootheca care please reference the links below: Spiny Flower Mantis (Psuedocreobotra wahlbergii) Caresheet – Keeping Insects, Spiny Flower Mantis (Psuedocreobotra wahlbergii) Caresheet – Mantid Forum. The sex of the mantis can be determined by looking at the segments on its abdomen. They will often prefer a simple enclosure with silk plants (such as an Ivy Branch, Leafy Branch, Orchid Flower, or White Flower) and an easily disposable substrate such as sphagnum moss, or even just a paper towel that you can change once a week. They will not chase after food though, as they are not a very active species. The egg sacs must be kept in the same way as the mantis itself. They stay blackish until L3 instar stage. Young nymphs (up to L4) can be kept together, but the older they are the more likely they will eat each other. We do not recommend housing this species communally. While at rest it is well camouflaged, and is a sufficiently good aggressive mimic of a flower that prey insects can attempt to pollinate it, at which moment the mantis seizes and eats them. Some individuals also include some hot pink in the mix as well. This species is cannibalistic, like most species of praying mantis. Use spring water, distilled water, or water filtered by reverse osmosis (RO), but do not use plain tap water. The adult has spiny structures on the underside of its abdomen, giving it its name. L5 nymph to adult: Should be fed house flies or blue bottle flies. For an adult this means is at least 15 cm in height and 10 cm in width. Drinking from the water droplets is important for this species. As with all species of praying mantis, this species needs an enclosure that is at least 3 times the length of the animal in height, and at least 2x the length of the animal in width. These mantises have strong forearms, and a big appetite while they are growing up, and therefore can handle rather large prey compared to their body sizes.
When kept in mesh cages, we mist the enclosure twice a day. The enclosure must have adequate ventilation, and some kind of material on the ceiling of the enclosure which will allow the mantis to hang upside down during molting, as well as an empty space at the top which is at least 2 times the size of the mantis. They are white with orange and green stripes, and as adults they have a beautiful patch of color on their wings that looks like an eye. Read all about caring for Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii mantises in this caresheet.
They will not chase after food though, as they are not a very active species.
The thinner wings that are under the top wings are bright yellow. “Spinys” are popular for their #9 mark on their wings.
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It has a large eyespot on its forewings, which is black, green and cream and is surrounded by a green patch.
The inner hind wings are orange and the outer hind wings are transparent. Especially white or yellow plastic flower look amazing in an enclosure with this species of mantis, as the mantis will blend into the environment of the flowers really well.
The spiny Flower Mantis, or Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii, is a beautiful and colorful flower mantis. Most mantises do not like getting sprayed directly, so it is best to try and spray around the mantis, but if you get them a little wet by accident, it is usually no big deal.