Avocado / Amazonian Spot Wing Mantis - Stagmatoptera supplicaria

Stagmatoptera supplicaria is a South American species that goes by several common names including "Avocado mantis" and Amazonian Spot Wing Mantis.  Early instar nymphs are a bronze color but at adulthood, develop bright green wings with a large brown eyespot.  The wing coloration and pattern can even be seen at presub and subadult stages while the wingbuds are developing.  This is a large species and adults can reach ~4" in length.

Diet should be flying insects appropriate for its size (fruit flies when young and eventually moving on to house flies and bottle flies as it grows) but will take the occasional waxworm, wax moth, mealworm, or roach at adulthood.  This species should be kept at daytime temperatures between 75 and 85 F and misted every other day to allow it to drink, daily when a young nymph.  Enclosure width should be 2 times the mantis' length and height should be 3 times the mantis' length.  Cross ventilation is important and humidity should be moderate, ~60-70% RH.  These are captive-bred for pet or educational purposes only - not to be released in the wild. 

Nymphs are sold unsexed unless otherwise specified.