Egyptian Pygmy Mantis

Miomantis paykullii

MantisbeginnerHarmless

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 tiny, exceptionally hardy starter mantis that can live its whole life on fruit flies. Keep warm (72-85°F) at 40-50% humidity with a light mist once or twice a day. Notably, unmated females can lay viable eggs that hatch into all-female offspring (parthenogenesis). Cannibalistic — house individually. Harmless to humans.

Taxonomy

FamilyMantidae

GenusMiomantis

Native regionNorth Africa and the Middle East

TypeArboreal

Temperamentsmall, fast, very hardy; cannibalistic

Size & growth

Adult size1-1.5 inches

Length25.00–40.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature72–85 °F

Humidity40–50%

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