Giant African mantis

Appearance

Despite its scientific name this insect ranges in color from bright green to dull brown. Females can reach 10 centimetres in length. Due to the sexual dimorphism typical of mantises, the male is much smaller. Females may also be distinguished from males as they have six segmented abdomens compared to an eight segmented abdomens of the males.

As adults, both sexes have a distinctive white spot on their wings. They have a yellowish color on their inner foreleg distinguishable from the black eyespot and white dots of the European mantis ''Mantis religiosa'' with whom it shares some range.

Naming

''Sphodromantis viridis'' is popularly called the African mantis, but that common name is shared with not only other species in its genus (i.e. S. belachowski, S. centralis, S. gastrica, S. lineola, etc.), but also ''Miomantis caffra'' and others as well.

Distribution

Sphodromantis viridis is native to West Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It can also be found as an introduced species in areas outside its original range, including Israel and Spain.

Reproduction

As with most mantis species, ''S. viridis'' males are frequently the victims of sexual cannibalism. Female produce an ootheca within a few days of mating and can produce several before she ends her life cycle. Each ootheca produces up to three hundred nymphs when it hatches. This species has also been noted to have produced parthenogenically.

Uses

Because of its size and hardiness, S. viridis is popular among those who keep insects as pets. S. viridis "is an easy species to keep, very suitable for beginners... They will happily take food of their own size and they will also take pieces of meat if it is offered on a pair of tweezers". They are also more tolerant of changes in humidity and temperature than are many other species.

Another breeder of mantises states that S. viridis:

...is an attractive species due to its aggressiveness. Anyone interested in looking at how a praying mantis chase down its prey and devour it greedily, this is the species! ...they are not as bulky as Sphodromantis Lineola but aggressive nevertheless. This species was easy to raise, feed them plenty of roaches, crickets, and wild caught flying insects, and they will gladly accept the food. Mating this species was not difficult at all, [the] male will initiate the move and [the] female will be more cooperative when fed well. A warm, well-heated enclosure of about 90°F works as a catalyst to further improve the chances of mating.