Thistle Mantis

 

Thistle Mantis | Thistle mantis is also known as Devil's Flower Mantis, Egyptian Flower Mantis, and Arab Mantis. It is a kind of praying mantis in Asia and Africa, in countries like Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and Cyprus. Thistle mantis is becoming increasingly popular is in captivity, and with its stunning looks and wild nature, it is understandable. 
Scientific classification
Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Arthropoda
Class:     Insecta
Order:     Mantodea
Family:     Empusidae
Genus:     Blepharopsis
Species:     B. mendica

 

This species of mantis is creamy white to light beige with green stripes and light green "veins" on the wings as adults. On its back this mantis has a small pointed shield under which the forearms are kept. The inside of the front legs are orange and blue and white white spots. These colors are displayed in the menacing posture to deter predators.Thistle mantis will grow to a size of about 5 to 6 cm, with little difference in size between the sexes. Males are slimmer with wings a bit to get over the end of the abdomen. The females are larger with a wider prothorax and with wings that extend only to the end of the abdomen. The females have thin antennae, while adult males have feathery antennae. 

 

As an adult, if kept moist, the Thistle mantis moult into a beautiful lime green specimen, dotted with white wings. They can also form as a green nymphs, but it is more common for adults, they are a light brown or beige color. The belly is covered with small, rubbery spines. This helps the body to camouflage in dry bushes or reeds. Nymphs spend most of their lives with their abdomen curled up on their body. Only as an adult that uncurl and die forming wings are not re-curl. When gently blown, they will slowly swaying from left to right. This is typical behavior of the most cryptic species. This swaying is mimicking a dried leaf or branch swinging in the wind. In a winding bush, can this behavior of the mantis go completely un noticed. 

 

Thistle mantis is a quiet kind of praying mantis. They are good at catching flying insects. Relying on its camouflage wait patiently until an unsuspecting prey passes by. This species is very aggressive and can not be intimidated by large prey. Thistle mantis deimatic can show a screen where they raise its wings and keep the forearms in a lateral manner. In this position the locust see large and bright colors on the inside of the lower arms are visible. This is designed to scare off predators. In their natural habitat, the Thistle mantis live in dry, arid conditions, it is best to encourage as much as possible in captivity. 

 

This species can eat a lot. Thistle mantis mainly eats flying insects in nature. The raptory arms are designed to catch flying insects. In captivity it is recommended to only feeding flying insects such as moths and flies. In the cavity, a daily diet of live food like crickets, grasshoppers, meal worms, Mario worms, had worms, earthworms and other live food that is readily available, it will grow healthy specimen. If you put them in one piece, the Thistle mantis be housed communally. However, if you are in possession of only a few, it is not worth the risk. Thistle mantis is not an extremely cannibalistic species, but will surely hunt and eat its own kind if they are not enough other foods. The risk of cannibalism very small, but these predators will remain.