African Praying Mantis (Sphodromantis balachowskyi, Centralis, Gastrica and Lineola) Family-Mantidae.

Adults get 6-8cm long. They prefer to be kept at 22° - 30°C (71.6° - 86°F), and 50% damp. Both sexes are capably of flight when adults. They can tolerate temperature and humidity irregularities unlike other species. African Mantis live in shrub areas. They should never be kept together in the same cage with the exception of the mating season. Male usually have 7 or more sections on their abdomen , females 6 or less.

Diet: Drosophila, houseflies, crickets, flour worms. The feed must be very diversified. To the newly hatched larvae must be promptly offered Drosophila flies.

Subadult male.

Subadult female.

Adult male.

Adult female.

Adult female eating a Meal worm.

Subadult female eating.