Way.Of.The.Mantis
Well-known member
What is the biggest possible mantid available? (In terms of length)
The Giant Malaysian Shield? :?
The Giant Malaysian Shield? :?
The Biggest Mantid available?
- Thread starter Way.Of.The.Mantis
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Asa
Well-known member
I think it's called the Archimantis? Biggest one available is chinese and the giants.
I have heard of the following large mantis
Macromantis sp
http://ttwebbase.dyndns.org/mantid/view/44.html
and
Ischnomantis gigas (15-17 cm)
Macromantis sp
http://ttwebbase.dyndns.org/mantid/view/44.html
and
Ischnomantis gigas (15-17 cm)
robo mantis
Well-known member
I want one 
Asa
Well-known member
Probably would be difficult to raise. Would be cool to watch them eat! Expensive too.
Probably depends what style of mantid you want too... I've seen discussion & pictures of a few really long mantises that are skinny and long (160mm), but not very bulky... then out of the bulky tank style mantids, the biggest only seem to go to 120mm.
The exotic pets store seems to state that the Giant Shield Mantis grows up to 120mm, yet I've read conflicting information on here. I also read somewhere that Sphodromantis Lineola grows to 130mm, but according to the exotic pets store, they only grow to like 90mm... so who knows... I believe whether they reach maximum growth potential may have a lot to do with how much you feed them and what temperature they're kept at.
When I get around to importing a mantid, I think I'll try my luck with the tried & true H. Grandis, unless I find some hard facts about what has been proven to grow bigger.
The exotic pets store seems to state that the Giant Shield Mantis grows up to 120mm, yet I've read conflicting information on here. I also read somewhere that Sphodromantis Lineola grows to 130mm, but according to the exotic pets store, they only grow to like 90mm... so who knows... I believe whether they reach maximum growth potential may have a lot to do with how much you feed them and what temperature they're kept at.
When I get around to importing a mantid, I think I'll try my luck with the tried & true H. Grandis, unless I find some hard facts about what has been proven to grow bigger.
Rob Byatt
Well-known member
At the moment in the UK, the overall largest mantis it is Plistopsilota guineensis - it was bred for the first time here last year. Adult females can reach 120mm from head to tip of abdomen.
Rhombodera basalis - the species that was bred here and is referred to by most websites - is genearlly around 90 mm, it DOES not reach 110mm :wink:
There are other Rhombodera spp. that are far larger than these two though
Borya
Well-known member
And how big Idolomantis diabolica is?
Birdfly
Well-known member
I diabolica grows to about 4-4.5 inches
While doing some research on mantids the other day I found an interesting fact. The world's largest praying mantis was recorded at 45cm (18") long, in Southern China, in 1929. Can you imagine seeing an eighteen inch praying mantis in front of you? Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantid
I have heard of 18" phasmid but never a mantis. I wonder if that's true, a mantis that size can take down a puppy!!
Asa
Well-known member
Yeah, it is true. I saw a picture of it somewhere.
OGIGA
Dead Leaf Mantis
I like mantises, but I think I'll be seriously afraid of an 18 inch one taking a bite out of me.
Asa
Well-known member
Would probably hurt a teensy bit.
This is definitely not true! I have to clean up the crappy stuff on Wikipedia again...
The largest species (in terms of length) is Ischnomantis gigas with about 17 and 14 cm for females and males, respectively. With some luck, it may be available soon.
Also very large are Toxodera beieri and T. maxima with about 15,5 cm and 13,5 cm, respectively. Paratoxodera cornicollis is not as large, just about 12-13 cm. Not available.
Idolomantis diabolica, Plistospilota guineensis, Heterochaeta orientalis, Macromantis spp. and some Rhombodera spp. reach 11-13 cm. The bulkiest I've ever seen was a Rh. fratricida female. Just about 11 or 12 cm, but powerful and heavy. A really scary one. Not available.
I wonder why some people always ask after large mantids. Some smaller ones are by far more interesting.
Regards,
Christian
The largest species (in terms of length) is Ischnomantis gigas with about 17 and 14 cm for females and males, respectively. With some luck, it may be available soon.
Also very large are Toxodera beieri and T. maxima with about 15,5 cm and 13,5 cm, respectively. Paratoxodera cornicollis is not as large, just about 12-13 cm. Not available.
Idolomantis diabolica, Plistospilota guineensis, Heterochaeta orientalis, Macromantis spp. and some Rhombodera spp. reach 11-13 cm. The bulkiest I've ever seen was a Rh. fratricida female. Just about 11 or 12 cm, but powerful and heavy. A really scary one. Not available.
I wonder why some people always ask after large mantids. Some smaller ones are by far more interesting.
Regards,
Christian
Asa
Well-known member
Rob Byatt
Well-known member
Maybe it did say that, but that is just Wikipedia, not a scientific documentation of size.
It is very doubtful that an 18" mantis exists. Not sure I'd want to keep it anyway :shock:
It is very doubtful that an 18" mantis exists. Not sure I'd want to keep it anyway :shock:
Asa
Well-known member
They actually hold conventions for breeding mantids to absurd sizes. It's disgusting.
It's not possible to increase the size of any animal beyond the natural boundaries set by evolution. You can achieve a size near to the upper range, but not far beyond it. Believing you can breed a giant mantis by feeding it exhaustively just leads to overfed mantids...
Greets,
Christian
Greets,
Christian
