Orchid Mantis

Hymenopus coronatus

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

The orchid mantis is the most famous flower-mimicking mantis in the hobby — petal-shaped lobed legs and a pink-and-white body that lets it ambush pollinators. Keep it warm (75-85°F) and moderately humid (60-80%), misting lightly 2-3 times a week; nymphs are more sensitive to low humidity than adults. Sexual dimorphism is extreme: females reach ~3 inches while males stay under an inch and mature far faster, which makes timed breeding tricky. House individually (cannibalistic) in a tall, well-ventilated enclosure at least three times the mantis's length, with twigs or mesh at the top for secure molting. A flying-prey specialist that readily takes flies and other winged feeders. Harmless to humans.

Taxonomy

FamilyHymenopodidae

GenusHymenopus

Native regionSoutheast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra)

TypeArboreal

Temperamentdocile, sit-and-wait flower mimic

Size & growth

Adult sizefemale ~3 in, male <1 in

Length25.00–70.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature75–85 °F

Humidity60–80%

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 sizeflying insects — flies, moths, bees; small roaches

Sling cadenceevery 1-2 days

Juvenile cadenceevery 2-3 days

Adult cadenceevery 2-3 days

Times kept: 0