{"id":2954,"date":"2021-01-02T23:37:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T23:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?p=2954"},"modified":"2021-08-05T19:51:20","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T19:51:20","slug":"wandering-violin-mantis-care-a-comprehensive-practical-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/wandering-violin-mantis-care-a-comprehensive-practical-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Wandering Violin Mantis Care: A Comprehensive Practical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The wandering violin mantis (Gongylus gongylodes<\/em>) is one of the most fascinating looking praying mantis species that you can keep as a pet (and my personal favourite). Although this praying mantis species can be a bit more difficult to keep, with this care guide, you have all the knowledge to properly house and care for them. It is an incredible species for the more experienced insect keeper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This praying mantis shows some of the best camouflage that is seen in the mantis world. They are quite large and come in a range of colours from light brown to almost black. Although rare, some come in green colour phases during one of its life stages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this care guide, we will discuss all you need to know about the housing, environmental conditions, how to feed them, clean them and breed them. But first, we will have a closer look at the wandering violin mantis species itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the wandering violin mantis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Wandering Violin Mantis \/
Wandering Rose Mantis \/
Indian Rose Mantis \/
Ornate Mantis<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Gongylus gongylodes<\/em><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>
Males: About 12 months
Females: Up to 15 months<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Males: Up to 9 cm (3.5″)
Females: Up to 11 cm (4.3″)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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India, Java, Sri Lanka, Thailand<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Appearance and camouflage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This praying mantis is one of the most bizarre-looking mantises out there. Their long prothorax makes them quite unique, and this feature is also what gives its name. When sitting still, it resembles a violin. The appendages around its legs and abdomen resemble dried leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most wandering violin mantises comes in light to dark brown colours. It can colour almost black or light green in some of its life stages, but this is very rare to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mantis species is rather large. The females can get up to 11 cm (4.3″), where the males are smaller and thinner and get up to 9 cm (3.5″). Nymphs look like miniature versions of the adults and are coloured very light brown. When they just hatched, they are no larger than 1.5 cm (0.5″).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexing of this mantis species is quite easy and can be done from L4. You can count 8 segments with males, where females only have 6. Females have 5 visible abdominal appendances \u2014 like spines at their abdomen \u2014 where males have 6 (although the last one is usually smaller). As adults, males have thick feathery antennae (which detect the smell of females) and full-grown wings covering its whole abdomen. Females have thin antennae, and the wings only cover around 75% of their abdomen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mantis species belongs to the group of Empusidae<\/em>, and with every species in that group lack the adhesion organs at the end of their legs. Therefore they can’t climb smooth surfaces and they need rough materials (e.g. branches) to move around in their enclosure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behaviour, temperament and handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wandering violin mantises are very calm and quiet species. They are typical sit and wait for prey to ambush, and don’t actively hunt for food. It won’t move around a lot in the enclosure. You often see them waving \u2014 like a sort of dancing \u2014 when hanging on a branch. This behaviour is part of their camouflage, where they mimic a dead leaf or twig waving in the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although they are very calm in the enclosure, they can be skittish when disturbed. When intimidated they will display their deimatic display \u2014 it will raise their front arms and make itself larger to intimidate you, showing the pink and black spots on its forearms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It won’t attack you and is not aggressive. You can handle them and let them walk on your hand. Be aware that adult males can fly very well and fly long distances when they get the chance. Females and subadults won’t fly. These mantises (especially nymphs) are fragile, and many don’t really like to be handled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you new to keeping praying mantises?<\/strong>

Are you considering keeping mantises as a pet, but you are a complete beginner to the keeping of praying mantises? Keeping and caring for praying mantises is not difficult, but it is important to know what you are doing. The guide on the basics of keeping praying mantis<\/a> will provide all you need to know to keep a praying mantis as a pet successfully. Please go check it out!<\/div>