Texas Unicorn Mantis

Phyllovates chlorophaea

MantisintermediateHarmless

No venom, no sting

Mantises are harmless to humans. They have no venom or sting — the worst they can do is grip with their spined forelegs or deliver a startling but harmless nip.

About

A green-brown horned mantis native from Texas down into Central America. Species-specific captive data is limited, so this follows standard tropical-mantis husbandry: warmth around 70-85°F, moderate 50-65% humidity from regular misting, and a tall, well-ventilated enclosure with good molting surfaces. Keepers note it is slow to molt and prone to mismolts in the final instar if kept too dry, so keep humidity and molting perches dialed in. House individually; harmless to humans.

Taxonomy

FamilyMantidae

GenusPhyllovates

Native regionSouthern USA (Texas) to Central America

TypeArboreal

Temperamentcryptic horned mantis; slow to molt

Size & growth

Adult sizeup to ~3 inches

Length60.00–75.00 mm

Growth ratemedium

Climate

Temperature70–85 °F

Humidity50–65%

Enclosure

Adult size≥3x body length tall, 2x wide; well-ventilated

Substratecoco fiber or paper towel; light misting for humidity/drinking

Substrate depth1-2 inches

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizeflies, crickets, roaches

Adult cadenceevery 2-3 days

Times kept: 0