Tips for Breeding a Praying Mantis in Captivity

Praying mantises are large, fascinating insects that entertain both beginner and experienced pet owners. The creatures don't require large habitats, and it is interesting to watch them hunt for food, which includes a variety of insects. Praying mantises also breed readily in captivity, allowing you to witness their entire life cycle.

  1. Sexing the Mantises

    • Be sure you are introducing a male and female, as opposed to two insects of the same gender. Praying mantises begin breeding two to three weeks after their final molt, when they achieve their adult wings. It is also easiest to determine gender after this stage. Flip the praying mantis over and examine its abdomen. Female mantises have six segments, and males have eight. Males are also smaller than the females.

    Feeding

    • In the wild, female praying mantises often eat the male mantis after mating. Prevent this by feeding your female often before, during, and after breeding. Feed about 15 small crickets, or an equivalent insect, to keep her appetite low.

    Mating Area

    • The breeding area needs to be large enough to introduce the male from a distance. A large terrarium habitat is ideal. It takes up to a day for the male to approach the female, and the actual mating takes up to 24 hours. Watch the pair closely, both for the safety of the insects and to make sure the mating takes place. After mating, remove the male from the breeding area immediately so that the female doesn't eat him. Allow the female to lay her eggs before moving her back to her normal habitat.

    Ootheca Care

    • The ootheca is the egg case produced by the female after mating. The female produces up to six oothecas, sometimes right after mating or up to a couple weeks later. The ootheca is frothy at first, but hardens to protect the eggs inside. The female normally lays the ootheca in a safe location for the young. If you need to move it, however, suspend the ootheca at least 5 cm above the bottom of the mantis enclosure. The young mantises hatch anywhere from two weeks to six months later.

    Young Praying Mantis Care

    • Between 30 to 300 young mantises hatch from each ootheca. House mantises together in a large enclosure with many hiding places and a steady supply of food until their second or third molt. Too small a habitat or too little food for the young leads to cannibalism.