Caring for Praying Mantis Nymphs: A Rearing Guide

 A Guide to Raising Baby Praying Mantises

Raising baby praying mantises can be a fun and educational experience, whether at home or in the classroom. These fascinating insects are generally docile and easy to care for, making them ideal for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feeding Habits

• Newly hatched nymphs require very small live food, such as aphids, fruit flies, or other tiny insects.

• As they grow, they can gradually consume larger prey like small crickets, gnats, or mealworms.

• Adult mantises will hunt beetles, grasshoppers, and other sizable insects.

Key Tips for Success

• Always have appropriately sized food on hand. Many specialized suppliers offer feeder insects suitable for mantises at all life stages.

• House nymphs in a well-ventilated enclosure, such as a fine-meshed insect container, to prevent escape and ensure a safe environment.

• Avoid overhandling. While mantises can become calm with regular gentle interaction, too much stress may slow taming progress or trigger aggression.

Lifecycle Notes

• Mantises develop from nymph to adult over approximately six months.

• Females lay egg cases in the fall, each containing 25–400 eggs.

• Lifespan typically ranges from 6 months to tilerummy a year.

Did You Know?

• After mating, female mantises may sometimes eat the male.

• Mantis egg cases (oothecae) can be purchased online from suppliers like Insect Lore or Carolina Biological Supply.

Raising praying mantises offers a unique window into insect behavior and life cycles. With a proper setup and consistent care, you can enjoy watching these remarkable predators grow from tiny nymphs into impressive adults.