Praying Mantis

Australia has approximately 160 described mantis species in around 40 genera, distributed across all states and territories and a wide range of habitats — from tropical rainforest and savanna woodland (giant rainforest mantis) to dry grassland and shrubland (grass and monster mantises) and suburban gardens (garden mantis). Australia's mantis fauna is one of the most diverse in the southern hemisphere.

Praying mantises are the only insects capable of turning their head 180 degrees to look directly behind them — a feature linked to their highly visual, ambush-predator lifestyle. They are sit-and-wait predators that detect prey primarily through movement, using binocular vision (from their large, forward-facing compound eyes) to judge distance precisely before striking with lightning speed.

The praying mantis life cycle is hemimetabolous: eggs are laid in a foamy ootheca (egg case) that hardens around a central twig or surface, hatching into nymphs that resemble small wingless adults. Most species undergo 5-9 moults before reaching adult winged form. Adult lifespan after the final moult is typically 3-9 months depending on species and temperature.

No licence is required to keep native Australian mantis species in most states; confirm requirements with your state wildlife authority. Exotic mantis species cannot legally be kept in Australia without appropriate permits. All captive animals should be sourced from reputable captive-breeding suppliers.

Enclosure height is the single most critical dimension: a mantis moults by hanging upside down from the ceiling and must have at least 3 times its own body length of clear space below it to moult safely. A 10 cm mantis requires at least 30 cm of vertical clearance below the ceiling. If the mantis touches any surface during the moult, it may be unable to complete the shed and will die deformed or stuck.

Suitable enclosures: purpose-built ventilated plastic or mesh containers with cross-ventilation (mesh lid essential for hanging during moult); vertically oriented plastic tanks; commercial mesh-sided invertebrate enclosures. A mesh or perforated lid is essential as the mantis must cling to the ceiling to hang for moulting. For small nymphs, ventilated plastic cups with mesh lids are appropriate, upgraded as the mantis grows.

Temperature: most Australian species thrive at 22-30 deg C; Hierodula majuscula prefers 24-30 deg C. Room temperature is adequate for most species in most Australian homes during warmer months. In cooler months, a heat mat on one side of the enclosure regulated by a thermostat provides a thermal gradient. Never allow temperature to exceed 35 deg C. Humidity: 60-80% for tropical species (H. majuscula); 40-60% for grassland species (Archimantis). Mist one wall of the enclosure daily to provide drinking water; avoid waterlogging the substrate.

Substrate: a thin layer of coconut peat or paper towel is adequate. The substrate's primary function is moisture retention; mantises spend almost no time on the ground. Add several stout twigs or branches at varying heights for climbing and hunting. Never house two mantises together after the 3rd moult.

All live invertebrate prey — mantises detect food by movement and will not eat dead insects placed on the ground. Prey must be alive or, if freshly dead, presented directly to the mantis on feeding forceps with gentle movement to simulate life. Prey should be no larger than the width of the mantis's thorax.

Nymphs (early instars): small fruit flies (Drosophila), springtails or pinhead crickets. As size increases through moults, graduated to small crickets, small woodies (cockroaches), blowflies and mealworms. Large adult females (especially H. majuscula) can take large crickets, locusts, moths and similar prey. Do not offer bees, wasps or other venomous insects. Do not offer prey significantly larger than the mantis's thorax width — oversized prey may injure a mantis.

Feed every 2-3 days; a healthy mantis has a rounded, full-looking abdomen. Do not overfeed — an abdomen distended to the point of visible segment separation indicates overfeeding. A slightly lean abdomen is better than an overfull one, as overfeeding shortens lifespan. Remove uneaten prey after 30 minutes if not consumed; live prey left in the enclosure overnight can disturb or injure a moulting mantis. Mist the enclosure walls daily for drinking water.

Most Australian mantis species can be gently handled by adults who approach calmly from the front and allow the mantis to walk onto a hand voluntarily. Hierodula majuscula adults — particularly females — can be quite docile and are often comfortable free-roaming on a hand or arm for short periods. Juveniles are more skittish and may jump or bite if approached from above or behind.

The raptorial forelegs of large mantis species can deliver a sharp, claw-like grab that can break skin — a reflex grip rather than aggression, but one to be aware of. Move slowly, approach from the front, and let the mantis lead. Never handle during or immediately before a moult.

Mantises are visually driven animals and enrichment centres on providing a stimulating visual environment and varied prey. Offering different prey species on different feeding occasions — flies, moths, crickets, woodies — provides variety that stimulates natural hunting behaviour. Providing a complex climbing structure of branches at multiple heights allows natural territorial and hunting positioning.

Adult female mantises can be offered supervised out-of-enclosure time on potted plants for observation, though this requires close supervision to prevent escape or injury. This is not encouraged for males as they are a flight risk. Introducing movement near the enclosure — a finger slowly moved outside the glass — engages the mantis's tracking behaviour and provides stimulation. Avoid overhandling; a mantis that is frequently disturbed between feeds and moults is stressed, not enriched.

Failed moults: The most common cause of death in captive mantises. Caused by: enclosure height insufficient for the mantis to hang and complete the moult freely; live prey disturbing the mantis during a moult; humidity too low (dry exoskeleton prevents clean shedding); mantis in poor nutritional condition. Prevent by maintaining adequate enclosure height (minimum 3x body length below the ceiling), removing all live prey before a moult, misting daily, and ensuring the mantis is adequately fed.

Dehydration: Mantises obtain all water by drinking droplets from misted surfaces. If daily misting is neglected, dehydration causes progressive lethargy, shrivelling of the abdomen and death. Mist one wall daily.

Overfeeding: A chronically overfull abdomen shortens lifespan. Monitor the abdomen size; if visibly distended skip a feeding day.

Cannibalism injuries: Any mantis housed with another after the 3rd moult risks injury or death from a companion. House individually without exception.

Fungal infections: Can develop in humid enclosures with inadequate ventilation or soiled substrate. Ensure cross-ventilation and replace substrate promptly if mould is visible.