Zebra Mantis - Omomantis zebrata

The praying mantis's stage is from L3 to L7

Information

Omomantis zebrata is a species of praying mantis belonging to the family Mantidae. The common name “Zebra Mantis” comes from the striking zebra-like stripes covering its body. When disturbed, this praying mantis often displays its remarkable flying abilities, with flights of up to 50 meters! Omomantis zebrata is originally from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Although small, they have a great voracity for insects; a spectacular species!

Appearance

Their bodies are adorned with a unique striped pattern of bright, striking colors such as yellow, pink, blue, and green, with a black border along the outer edge of each color.

They are relatively small in size; their bodies grow to be anywhere between 5 and 7 centimeters, with females growing one centimeter larger than males.

Their front legs are noticeably longer than their hind legs and are equipped with spines that they use to catch their prey.

Their heads are triangular and have a pair of large eyes at the front, allowing them to see in many directions and detect small movements in the air.

Behavior

Omomantis zebrata is generally a peaceful creature and shows no aggression towards humans or other animals. They are considered quite docile, and you can often see them admiring their surroundings with their quick eyes.

Omomantis zebrata can also be considered shy, as they tend to hide or retreat when they are afraid of danger. They are also quite active in the morning and evening and may show some curious behavior during this time.

Despite being small, they are quite brave and will not hesitate to come out and explore their habitat if they feel safe and comfortable. Furthermore, they are also excellent climbers and may even try to climb on your shoulder and hands if they are given food.

Food

The Zebra Praying Mantis primarily feeds on other small insects in its natural habitat. They tend to hide during the day and become more active at night to hunt prey more effectively.

Omomantis zebrata occasionally feeds on small flowers with nectar and pollen, but usually feeds on their normal insect diet. Due to their small size, they cannot tackle prey much larger than themselves.

In their natural habitat, the Zebra Praying Mantis also eats any nutritious plants or decaying vegetation they encounter, so this should also be considered when providing food for them in captivity.

Environmental Requirements

The ideal temperature is around 24 °C, but room temperature is also fine. At night, it can be slightly cooler than during the day, but at least 18 °C.
This species does not have high humidity requirements, but it is important to spray with water every day or every other day. A guideline humidity is about 40 to 65%. Being too humid for too long is the number one cause of death for this species.
As with all praying mantis species, this species needs an enclosure that is at least 3x the length of the animal in height, and at least 2x the length of the animal in width. For an adult animal, this means at least 27 cm in height and 18 cm in width. A good size for a terrarium would be 20 x 20 x 35, so there is also room for artificial plants and many perches.