Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera

Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patelliferaa, are a hardy praying mantis species perfect for those new to praying mantis keeping and invertebrate keeping. Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera are slightly smaller than the Giant Asian mantis – hierodula membranacea but are still a decent size whilst boasting shades of lilac in their coloration making them much more than just another big green mantis. In temperament, they are relatively docile & handleable, while still retaining the ferocity & aggression with prey that mantis keepers highly value.

In temperament, the Harabiro mantis is a calm and docile species that make wonderful companions. Despite their placid nature, Hierodula Patellifera are excellent hunters with their aggression and mantis-like nature showing most prominently in mature adult females. Harabiro Mantis are notable gluttons, and are such voracious eaters, in fact, that some owners have to regulate their diet so they do not overeat. They are active hunters rather than ambush predators, and would much rather seek and chase down prey than wait for it to unknowingly approach first.

Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera rarely wander, and are perfectly happy to stay in the same place which makes them ideal for supervised free-roaming. Their large size as adults and bright green colouring make them difficult to lose track of if you’re paying attention. It’s perfectly normal to allow these critters to sit beside you while you go about your day, being more than happy to simply relax on a houseplant.

Feeding

Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera nymphs will thrive on a diet of D. Hydeii fruit flies. As they mature, switch to crickets, dubia roaches, locusts, green/blue bottle flies, and other suitable prey. These critters are not considered fussy eaters, and will tackle prey around 1/2 of their total body length. Feed until the abdomen becomes plump and large.

Environmental Conditions

Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera are easy to care for and so do not require hard-to-maintain humidity & temperature levels. They will happily thrive at around room temperature, with relative humidity levels at around 60-70% RH. Temperature can be maintained using a heat mat if necessary, and humidity levels can be boosted via moisture-retaining substrate such as coco coir fibre. Mist your mantis enclosure daily to ensure your mantis stays hydrated, and to further boost the enclosure humidity.

Praying mantis need an enclosure at least 3x as tall as the mantis’s total body length. This space ensures your mantis can safely molt, as it must extend downwards to escape its skin. L2-L4 giant Asian mantis nymphs are around 1-2cm long.

Sexing

Harabiro Mantis, Hierodula Patellifera can be sexed as nymphs by counting the segments on their abdomen, females have 6 abdominal segments while males have 8. As the  mantis matures, females become noticeably larger than males, developing a bulkier shape while males are typically thinner. Adult female mantis have wings that do not extend past the abdomen, while the wings of males extend slightly past.