Jeweled Flower Mantis - Creobroter gemmatus

Small flower mantis species originally from Asia.  Early instar nymphs are a dark reddish-brown, mimicking red ants.  Later nymphs can be mottled/striped with white, tan, and green coloration.  Adults are usually striped with white and tan/green with bright green forewings with a yellow and black eyespot that resembles a smiley-face and bright magenta hindwings.   This species is an aggressive feeder and has a voracious appetite.  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 also take waxworms, wax moths, mealworms, or roaches.  This species can be kept at daytime temperatures between 70 and 85 F and misted daily or every other day to allow it to drink.  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% RH.  Not a communal species - only one should be housed per enclosure.  These are captive-bred for pet or educational purposes only - not to be released in the wild. 

Nymphs are sold unsexed unless otherwise specified.