Orchid Praying Mantis
Orchid Praying Mantis
Name Dutch: Orchid Praying Mantis
Scientific name: Hymenopus crowned
Age: Several weeks to months
Height: Males no larger than 3 cm and females 6 -7 cm
Day temperature: Average 25 – 35 degrees
Humidity: 60-80%
Activity: Day active
Legislation: None
Stay: Terrariums
Recommended Dimension: 20 x 20 x 30 cm
Description
An Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is a species of praying mantis known for its striking appearance and camouflage abilities. It is a unique species within the world of praying mantises due to its resemblance to an orchid, hence the name "Orchid Praying Mantis".
The Orchid Mantis has an elegant and delicate appearance. The body and legs are often white, pink, or light green in color, which helps them resemble flower petals. This allows them to hide inconspicuously among orchids and other flowers, which serves as camouflage and aids in surprising their prey.
This particular species is native to parts of Southeast Asia, where they usually live in tropical forests and near orchids, which explains their name. In addition to their unique appearance, Orchid Mantis also have fascinating behavior, just like other mantises.
Keeping an Orchid Mantis as a pet requires specific knowledge and care and these mantises are not ideal for beginners, but for those who take good care of them they can be a wonderful and intriguing addition to the world of exotic pets.
Feeding and Hunting
The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) hunts for prey using a typical "sit-and-wait" hunting strategy, similar to other mantises. This hunting technique is also known as "ambush predation".
Here's how the Orchid Mantis hunting process works:
- camouflage: The Orchid Mantis is masterfully camouflaged and bears a striking resemblance to orchids or other flowers. Their body color and shape closely resemble flower petals, making them difficult to distinguish among flowers in their natural environment. This camouflage feature allows them to evade predators and remain unseen by their prey.
- Sit and wait: Once camouflaged, the Praying Mantis sits motionless on a flower or leaf, patiently waiting for an unsuspecting insect or small animal to come within their reach. They use their sharp eyesight and their unique camouflage to spy on prey.
- Attack: As soon as suitable prey is within reach, the Praying Mantis strikes at lightning speed. With their protruding grasping claws on the front legs, they grab their prey with precision and speed. The prey is held firmly between the front legs, making escape virtually impossible.
- Catch and feeding: After catching the prey, the Praying Mantis uses its sharp jaws to immobilize the prey. Sometimes even parts of the prey are already consumed during capture. Then the mantis secretes digestive enzymes to digest the soft tissue of the prey. The liquid tissue is then sucked up, allowing the mantis to feed.
This lurking strategy and perfect camouflage make the Orchid Mantis a very successful and deadly predator in its habitat. They have no need for prey to be actively pursued, but can silently and invisibly wait for the right moment to strike. This makes them a true master of prey capture and an intriguing insect to observe.
Feeding an Orchid Mantis
Nutrition plays an essential role in caring for your Orchid Mantis. This special praying mantis is a true carnivore and in captivity it is important to feed them with a suitable diet. As true carnivores, they have a diet consisting of various types of live insects, such as fruit flies, small crickets, flies and small moths.
To ensure that your Praying Mantis receives all the necessary nutrients, it is advisable to feed them on average 3 times a week. However, it is important to keep a feeding schedule to avoid overfeeding as this can cause health problems and even be fatal.
After feeding it is important to remove uneaten prey from the enclosure. This prevents disturbance during molting and prevents the prey from seeing your Praying Mantis as a potential snack.
Holding an Orchid Mantis
An Orchid Mantis is a fascinating pet to keep. These unique and beautiful creatures bear a striking resemblance to orchids, making them intriguing pets to watch. To ensure a healthy living environment, it is important to carefully fulfill their natural needs. Orchid Praying Mantises demand specific values from their living environment and are therefore not the easiest Praying Mantis species to keep.
Setting up a suitable terrarium is crucial to provide your Orchid Mantis with a comfortable living environment. A special insect terrarium with dimensions of, for example, 20x20x30 cm is recommended.
Provide plenty of climbing opportunities, such as plants, fake plants, and branches, to make your Praying Mantis feel comfortable. These insects are masters of camouflage, and creating an environment that resembles their natural habitat will contribute to their well-being.
Maintaining the correct temperature is very important for the health of your Orchid Mantis. The daytime temperature should be between 25 and 35 degrees on average. In addition, it is essential to keep the humidity between 60% and 80%. Regular spraying of water will help maintain proper humidity levels and meet their moisture needs.
Care of your Orchid Praying Mantis
A good feeding schedule is essential for the Orchid Mantis, as they are carnivores. To ensure they get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, it's important to provide a varied diet of live prey.
The Orchid Mantis stays hydrated by drinking drops of water from its habitat. That is why it is crucial to spray your terrarium regularly with a fine mist, so that small water droplets appear on the leaves and surfaces.
Keeping the terrarium clean is also important for your Praying Mantis. Remove feces and any food scraps from the terrarium to keep it clean. It is recommended to completely replace your terrarium's bedding every 6 to 8 weeks. Always do this carefully so as not to disturb your mantis too much. By performing regular maintenance, you ensure that your Orchid Mantis lives in a healthy and hygienic environment.
