Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii (Stal, 1871) –
Spiny Flower Mantis

Introduction

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P. wahlbergii is a beauty of the mantis world. This African mantis is found in tropical and subtropical savannah, and is an amazing flower mantis species. Not only are they covered by many stripes, spines, and patterns, they are able to change their colors to match flowers, and can be found in the wild as white, yellow, pink, or even green. These enigmatic chameleons also have an excellent defense for when they are found. They will spread out their arms and spread their wings, revealing their bright yellow hindwings and eyespot on their forewings.

 

This species is an excellent beginner species in part due to their aggressive feeding nature. This species will readily tackle flying prey as big or bigger than they are, and their powerful yet stout bodies let them grapple with them. If threatened, this mantis will not shy away. They are one of the few species that will be quick to strike and display at the threat. Their short tempered personalities make them one of the most popular mantises in the hobby to date!

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Sexing

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As with all mantises, males have 8 external sternites, and females have 6. Males have an extra middle spine on the bottom of their abdomen (6 spines in the middle row vs the female’s 5).

 

Keeping

 

Pseudocreobotra can be kept communally until 3rd instar after which it is advisable to separate. They become more territorial at this stage to smaller individuals so ample space should be provided.  Offering multiple perches via sticks or plants is recommended for communal setups to help avoid conflict. This species can climb plastic well when young, but has some difficulty once they become adults.  This species is a savannah species, so good ventilation and frequent misting are both a must. Not only are they thirsty, but they can be prone to fungal infections if ventilation is very poor.

 

Recommended space is as follows:

 

Instar 1 – 3: 8 oz Deli Cup

Instar 4 - Adult: 32 oz Deli Cup

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Feeding

 

Instar 1 - 3  – Drosophila species

Instar 4 – Adult – Houseflies, Blue bottle flies, Small Crickets, Roaches

 

Breeding

 

This species can be medium difficulty due to the female’s aggressiveness when it comes to breeding. Females are able to eat quite a bit of food, and are also quickly bothered and prone to threat display, making mating a challenge for this species. There are ways however to circumvent this. Males mature at 2 weeks adult, and females take between 4 – 6 weeks. It is recommended to have multiple males on hand per female.

 

Start by placing the female on a surface and offer her an item of food. Once she takes it, slowly put the male onto the females back. If done properly, the male will lower his antennae and climb on. The food will distract the female and the male should be able to mate easily. Leave the pair with additional blue bottle flies in the cage in case the female becomes hungry again. Mating will last anywhere from 6 – 10 hours. After which the female will lay an oothecae every 2 – 3 weeks. Each oothecae will contain anywhere from 30 – 60 nymphs depending on size. After 4 – 6 weeks of incubation at room temperature and 60 – 70% humidity, each oothecae will hatch all nymphs at once. They can be fed drosophila melanogaster after 24 hours.

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