Giant Rainforest Mantis

A large species of mantis with adult females reaching sizes as large as 10cm. They have a bright green base colouration with rusty red inner front arms and purple on the underside of the prothorax.

### Natural Predators

Birds, other Mantises, Reptiles, bigger Spiders

The Giant Rainforest Mantis is a species of mantis native to Queensland, Australia. They are some of the largest mantis species. Close relatives include Hierodula patellifera and Hierodula membranacea (both known as the Giant Asian Mantis), Hierodula patellifera (Philippine Marbled Mantis), and Hierodula venosa. Most mantids in this genus are quite large. It is a large species of mantis with females reaching lengths as large as 4 inches. They have a bright green base colouration with rusty red inner front arms and purple on the underside of the prothorax.

## **Description**

### **Growth**

The Giant Rainforest Mantis typically undergoes 6-7 molts throughout their 11-14 month life span. They can grow quite large depending on how often they catch food. In their first 2 instars, L1 and L2, Giant Rainforest Mantises can be kept together, as the danger of cannibalism is not all too high.

### **Hunting and Diet**

The Giant Rainforest Mantis typically eats anything it can catch, be it grasshoppers, cockroaches, lizards, or birds. They may eat each other if they get the chance, although smaller Rainforest Mantises tend to try to avoid larger mantises because of the risk of being eaten. Giant Rainforest Mantises are voracious eaters like the other members of the Hierodula genus. Like all mantises, they sieze their prey in their spike forearms then eat it alive. Nymphs typically eat flies, ants, and small crickets when in the first instar to the fourth instar. During the fifth instar the nymphs start to eat larger insects and animals until they finally transition into adults. They are an astonishing predator in the rainforests of Australia.

### Breeding

After the male mates with the female, the Giant Rainforest Mantis lays its eggs encased within a ootheca. The ootheca is usually attached to a branch or some other solid surface. The nymphs hatch months later, and begin hunting and eating soon after emerging. The nymphs often try to disperse after emerging due to the risk of them being eaten by their bigger siblings.

## Caresheet

### Food

It is best to feed them Live insects. Flies and crickets are best to feed them. Cockroaches are suitable, but they do hide, sometimes evating the mantis. Give them an insect or two once or twice a week as long as enough food is given to keep the mantids abdomen filled and rounded. Freshly killed insects can be given but must be fed to the mantid via forceps or tweezers, Mantises hunt with movement, and dead insects do not move on their own.

### Water

These mantids come from a hot and humid environment (Queensland), temperatures should be kept between 24-28°C year-round and at humidity levels of 70-80%. Like most mantis species they are quite tolerant of being kept at normal household temperatures with no additional heating equipment. To maintain a good level of humidity, mist the side of the enclosure and décor items every other day with a hand sprayer. (In the wild, Rainforest Mantises drink dew from leaves. Misting the enclosure with a spray bottle helps to simulate the mist in a rainforest.)

### Enclosure

The enclosure needs to be big enough to allow your mantis to molt properly. Add branches to the enclosure to give the mantis something to climb and crawl on. Place the enclosure in a place where sunlight shines, but be careful it doesn’t over heat in direct sunlight. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation in your enclosure. Substrate should be able to absorb water, like cocopeat, coconut husk, or tissue paper.

### Lifespan

Giant Rainforest Mantises generally live 11 months to one year.