How to Take Care of a Praying Mantis

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

A fascinating insect, the praying mantis is native to many countries around the world. It makes an interesting low-maintenance pet. Praying mantises come in many colors, including pink and white, green, and brown. The type of praying mantis species you'll be able to keep will depend on where you live and whether you're obtaining your praying mantis from the wild or your local exotic pet store. Raising a praying mantis is fairly straightforward and a lot of fun once you figure out its housing and food.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Housing a Praying Mantis

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can use a small vivarium , for instance. Make sure it has a secure, screened lid to allow for proper airflow. The cage can be made of plastic, glass, or mesh, as long as it has some holes in the top for ventilation. [1]
    • The whole cage can be made out of mesh as long as the mantis is an adult, as they like to cling to it. However, some younger insects will be able to slip through the mesh, so this isn't a good choice for a young mantis.
    • For a small praying mantis, you can even use a glass food jar as long as you poke holes in the top for ventilation. [2]
    • You can also cut a large hole out of the center of a plastic lid. Then, put a piece of toilet paper across the top of the jar before putting the lid on. That gives the container ventilation and provides something for the mantis to hold onto at the top. [3]
    • However, you don't want the cage too big, as they'll have trouble hunting down their food.
  2. Though not absolutely necessary, it will absorb some of the water you add to the cage and release it into the air more slowly. Plus, it will make it easier to clean the cage, as you can just dump the substrate and add new. You'll need less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of substrate. [4]
    • You can even just use a paper towel.
    Advertisement
  3. Add sticks and bark to make your mantis feel at home. Place sticks at different angles in the cage, giving the mantis space to climb. You can also add pieces of bark or even rocks if you'd like. The mantis will like having natural items to crawl around on. Make sure at least one stick goes up almost all the way to the top so that the mantis has most of the jar to hang down in when molting.
    • You can also add dried leaves or even silk flowers.
  4. Praying mantises don't actually need to drink water, but it can be good to provide a small bowl of water anyway in the bottom of the cage. The water will help keep the air humid enough for the mantis. You can use a small bottle cap, for instance. [5]
    • Otherwise, lightly mist the cage once a day.
    • If you have hatchlings, put a damp paper towel down on the bottom of the cage.
  5. With most species, you can keep them anywhere in your home, as long as it's 68 to 77 °F (20 to 25 °C). However, check out particular information about your species, as some prefer more warmth, up to 90 °F (32 °C). If yours does, you can use a warming lamp set about 1 foot (0.30 m) over the cage. [6]
    • If you use a warming lamp, check the temperature of your praying mantis's cage with a thermometer to make sure it's not too hot.
  6. If you keep them together, one may try to eat the other, as these insects can be cannibalistic. It's best to get separate jars or cages and only put them together to mate if you are breeding them. [7]
    • If you have just hatched mantises, they can be kept together, but get them separate cages as they grow older.
    7. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Feeding Your Insect

PDF download Download Article
  1. These insects will not eat dead prey. It has to be moving to attract their attention. You can keep live insect colonies on hand for your praying mantis or simply catch food for it around your home or garden. In addition, they only need to be fed every other day or even every third day if they don't catch the food you offer every other day. [8]
    • Adult females may need a bit more food than adult males.
  2. You can buy flightless fruit flies online or at places that sell insect and reptile food. These tiny flies are perfect for young hatchlings, as they won't get out in your home! However, if you have fruit flies in your home already, you can catch some and feed them to your praying mantis.
    • To catch fruit flies, poke holes in the top of a plastic container. Put fruit in the container, which will attract the flies. Once you have a couple, place the whole container in the freezer for just a few minutes, which will stun them. Then you can drop them into the praying mantis' container, where they will come back to life.
    • You can use any small insect of this size you find around your home or garden, including gnats and aphids. [9]
  3. Praying mantises eat live insects and typically grasp the prey in their forearms, making it a good way to judge the size you need. Adolescent mantises can eat small cockroaches or crickets, for instance, as well as house flies. As they grow, increase the size of the insects.
    • You can purchase these from reptile stores, but you can also try capturing them yourself.
  4. Some prey, such as roaches or caterpillars, tend to hide, and your mantis may not go after it. If it's not eating these insects, try something with more movement, such as a cricket or fly to see if that works better.
    • You can also hold out the food on tweezers, which will encourage the mantis to take it straight away.
  5. Large insects could injure your mantis if it doesn't eat them, so if your praying mantis doesn't seem interested in 15-30 minutes, you may need to take them out. Also, take out any bits of insect left behind by your mantis after feeding. Mantises aren't the tidiest of diners, and they'll leave behind all manner of debris including legs, wings, chewy or hard bits they didn't like. You need to remove these daily. [10]
    • When this debris piles up, the praying mantis will stress out and won't cope well in the artificial environment.
    • When cleaning out the leftovers from its meals, also remove your praying mantis' fecal matter, which is pellet-shaped.
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Cleaning the Cage

PDF download Download Article
  1. Your praying mantis is delicate no matter how strong it appears. Don't try to grab it, as you can hurt it. Instead, let it crawl out on your hand or encourage it into another container while you clean its main one. It also helps to feed your mantis before handling it, as it will be less likely to perceive your hand as prey.
    • Be patient ! The mantis will typically crawl out on your hand or finger eventually if you hold it in front of it. Usually, they will just sit there on your finger or hand. You can even take it out when you're not cleaning the cage.
    • Praying mantises have wings once they're adults, meaning that they can fly. If you want to hold it, close all the windows and doors before removing it from its home.
    • Don't touch your mantis if it's molting. You could hurt it!
  2. Dump the substrate out into the trash and rinse out any debris. Then, scrub the cage down using hot water. If you have a glass cage, you can set the glass in the sink and pour boiling water in it to disinfect it, but make sure to wait until it cools down before you handle it! [11]
    • It's best not to use any detergent, but if the cage is very dirty, you can add a drop or 2 of dish soap. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly.
    • Once done, dry the cage and put in new substrate.
  3. If you notice lots of feces or even mold growing in the substrate, you can just replace it. However, you can also put in tiny bugs called springtails. These critters will take care of the feces and mold, effectively cleaning out the cage. [12]
    • You can find these online or in reptile stores.
  4. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you're done. Scrub your hands with warm water and soap, making sure you get in between your fingers. Then, rinse your hands thoroughly. Like most critters, praying mantises can transfer bacteria to you.
    5. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Caring for a Molting Praying Mantis

PDF download Download Article
  1. It may look a little plumper than usual, as the new skin grows underneath the old. Plus, it will likely stop eating and try to scare away insects you want to feed it. You may also notice cloudiness on the skin and larger wing bumps. The praying mantis may become lethargic.
    • If your mantis has wings, it's reached the final stage of molting and won't shed its skin again.
    • If you think your mantis is about to molt, make sure to remove any insects, as they could feed on the mantis skin or knock it off its perch.
  2. The insect will hang upside down from a limb or mesh. If you move the cage, you could knock it off and damage the insect in the process. In fact, if the mantis falls, it only has a 25% survival rate. Molting only takes about 20 minutes, but the mantis won't fully dry for 24 hours.
  3. Praying mantises can lose limbs for various reasons, including low humidity in their cage while molting. If you notice yours has lost a limb after molting, try to increase the humidity by misting more often or providing a water bowl. Then, it may re-grow the limb after it molts next. [13]
    • If you think your mantis is dying because it's only half-emerged from the shed skin, you can place it in the freezer to humanely euthanize it.
    4. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How long can a praying mantis live?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Larger species can live for 4-6 months, while smaller varieties may only live for 4-8 weeks. Females typically live longer than the males.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 95
  • Question
    Does a praying mantis need water?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, but you don’t need to give it a water dish. Just lightly mist the sides of the tank with water once a day so that it can drink from the droplets.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 72
  • Question
    Can a praying mantis recognize humans?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It’s hard to say whether a mantis can recognize individual humans. They have excellent eyesight and will watch you closely. They are also unlikely to be aggressive toward humans (in other words, they don’t tend to mistake your fingers for food), so you can let them walk on your hand or perch on your shoulder without fear.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 87
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      • If you know you have these insects in your local area, consider collecting a praying mantis from the wild. You'll typically find them during late summer. Praying mantises are usually about 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length. Since they are mostly brown or green, they look much like sticks and leaves, making them blend in well with their environment. Coax the mantis into the container using a twig or your hand if you are okay with that. You can also use a net to capture one. [14]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
      • With proper care, praying mantises can live up to one and a half years, though that is rare and it does depend on the species.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
      • If you can't find a praying mantis or they aren't in your area, visit your local pet store and ask for advice as to whether they can get a particular praying mantis for you. This might give you wider options for different species, depending on the laws in your country as to importing insects and keeping them as pets. If purchasing a praying mantis, they are usually sold as nymphs. Each nymph comes packed in a small container.
        Thanks
        Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Female praying mantises are usually larger than male praying mantises. A female mantis typically has 6 abdominal segments while males have 8 segments.
      • If your mantis isn't eating after it molts, hold an insect directly in front of its mouth. This can encourage it to eat.
      • Don't set your mantis' enclosure in direct sunlight, as it may overheat.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Take Care of Butterflies
      How to
      Get Rid of Spider Webs
      How to
      Care for a Tarantula
      How to
      Keep a Praying Mantis As a Pet
      How to
      Feed and Care for a Ladybug
      How to
      Raise Your Own Crickets
      How to
      Build an Ant Farm
      How to
      Identify an Insect
      How to
      Preserve Insects
      How to
      Build a Ladybug House
      Why You Keep Seeing Maggots in Your Rice & How to Get Rid of Them
      How to
      Keep Feeder Crickets From Dying
      How to
      Identify Termite Larvae
      The Best Ways to Get Rid of Crickets Inside and Outside Your Home
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
      2. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wSHdvudpw&feature=youtu.be&t=190
      4. ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
      5. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      6. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      7. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      8. ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
      9. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      1. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      2. ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wSHdvudpw&feature=youtu.be&t=282
      4. ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
      5. ↑ https://www.gardeninsects.com/prayingMantis.asp

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To take care of a praying mantis, feed it a diet of fruit flies and gnats if it’s a baby, or butterflies and crickets if it’s fully grown. You should also water your mantis by spraying the inside of glass or plastic tanks with a spray bottle, or placing a water bottle lid full of water inside the enclosure if it’s made from wire. To create a happy home for your praying mantis, use a suitable tank, like a vivarium, and decorate it with things the mantis can climb on, like sticks and branches. To learn the best way to handle a praying mantis, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,205,371 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Jacqueline Milkins

        Jul 4, 2017

        "I have a wild one which has decided to live on the outside of my chinchilla's run. It seems quite happy, and I ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement