Cold adapted mantis species

happy1892 · Jan 12, 2016

Hi! There are so few mantises that are cold adapted... lets list some shall we?

They overwinter as oothecae, so the eggs in the oothecae are the things overwintering, cool summers might also matter to mantises.

Brunneria borealis

Iris polystictica (super cold hardy?)

Iris oratoria

Mantis religiosa religiosa (also super cold tolerant?)

Mantis religiosa polonica (super cold hardy?)

Mantis religiosa beybienkoi (super cold hardy?)

Litaneutria minor

Empusa pennata

Schizocephala bicornis (overwinters as nymphs?)

Stagmomantis californica

Stagmomantis carolina

Tenodera sinensis

Tenodera angustipennis

Hierodula transcaucasica

Hierodula patellifera

Statilia maculata

Orthodera novaezealandiae

Coptopteryx

Any more mantises to list?

happy1892 · Jan 12, 2016

Mantis religiosa beybienkoi (?) from Mongolia:

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6242083

hibiscusmile · Jan 12, 2016

A mantis may live for a few days in cold weather if that is what you are wondering, but for much longer they really do not last, when it gets down to 40F the food Is scarce and they end up dying. I can tell you an awful story, but don't want to leave that in your minds.

mantiseater · Jan 12, 2016

tenodera angustipenis, orthodera novaezealandiae, brunneria borealis, empusa pennata, various hierodula species, coptopteryx, schizocephala bicornis (can apparently go through a one to two month dispuase around l4.)

happy1892 · Jan 12, 2016

Thank you mantiseater! Adding those to the list.

happy1892 · Jan 12, 2016

How about Gonatista grisea, Thesprotia graminis, Acromantis japonica, and Sphodromantis viridis?

And Blepharopsis mendica mendica I think I read go through winter as nymph stage in Canary Islands.

And how about Apteromantis aptera, Perlamantis alliberti? http://www.sea-entomologia.org/aracnet/12/06articulo5.pdf

aNisip · Feb 6, 2016

happy1892 said:
How about Gonatista grisea, Thesprotia graminis,

I can first-hand confirm that these can and will survive periods of "extreme" cold. Within the past few weeks it has gotten below freezing here in Gainesville, FL and on multiple occasions I have found nymphs of both of these species.

happy1892 · Feb 6, 2016

aNisip said:
I can first-hand confirm that these can and will survive periods of "extreme" cold. Within the past few weeks it has gotten below freezing here in Gainesville, FL and on multiple occasions I have found nymphs of both of these species.

The oothecae are laid underneath bark right? Do the temperatures stay more moderate there than the outside air? Still they are cold tolerant.

aNisip · Feb 6, 2016

happy1892 said:
Im not sure why I cant post in a regular text box, but anyway... Yes, some g grisea lay their ooths under bark....but it is merely wedged between bark..so no real insulation/protection from the cold. Yes. both species are cold tolerant.

happy1892 · Feb 9, 2016

How about Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii? This ones found in Eastern Cape, South Africa:

https://www.ispotnature.org/node/774289?nav=search

Is it kind of cold down there?

Edit:

It seems like it doesn't really get very cold during winter down at the coast? But there are places where it's colder in South Africa, so will have to find them from around there to know if they are cold adapted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molteno,_Eastern_Cape

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Elizabeth

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_climate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-arid_climate#Cold_semi-arid_climates

happy1892 · Feb 10, 2016

We're going to get nowhere with this list, since there are so many cold adapted mantis species?!

Hierodula venosa invasive now in Nagoya and Tokyo:

http://m.blog.naver.com/eldkfnrk1/220616672662

Extrememantid · Feb 10, 2016

Are there any Creobroter? Found at higher altitudes or parts with cooler winters?

happy1892 · Feb 10, 2016

Extrememantid said:
Are there any Creobroter? Found at higher altitudes or parts with cooler winters?

There is Creobroter apicalis that is found in Yunnan, China. It gets mild cool winters:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan#Climate

And Creobroter nebulosa of Southeast China

http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/Common/specimen/ShowSpecimen.aspx?Router=NewPage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanping

How about Hymenopus coronatoides of Southern China?

http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1182739

mantisman 230 · Feb 10, 2016

I know Empusa pennata overwinters at l5 naturally, as ooths are layed in the summertime. But we must also remember what can truly constitute as cold tolerant. They must be able to withstand below freezing temperatures for a week or more as a mantid, and at least a solid month as an ooth

cooler temperatures can be tolerated quite easily for some time even with tropicals. pop one that has mismolted into the freezer for a few hours, and pull it out to find it still breathing.

Extrememantid · Feb 10, 2016

mantisman 230 said:
I know Empusa pennata overwinters at l5 naturally, as ooths are layed in the summertime. But we must also remember what can truly constitute as cold tolerant. They must be able to withstand below freezing temperatures for a week or more as a mantid, and at least a solid month as an ooth cooler temperatures can be tolerated quite easily for some time even with tropicals. pop one that has mismolted into the freezer for a few hours, and pull it out to find it still breathing.

Are there official standards for cold tolerant species?

Extrememantid · Feb 10, 2016

To me, any species that experiences near or below freezing temperatures for a fair amount of time somewhere in the cycle can be considered a cold tolerant species.

happy1892 · Feb 10, 2016

I believe you're right guys. Can't really say whats really considered cold tolerant.

Theopropus sp. from Southeast China (but with just cool temperatures during winter)

happy1892 · Feb 11, 2016

A bunch of maybe slightly cool tolerant mantises in Punjab, Pakistan:

http://eurekamag.com/research/032/246/032246807.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_Pakistan#Climate

TheShad0w · Dec 12, 2024

happy1892 said:
Hi! There are so few mantises that are cold adapted... lets list some shall we? They overwinter as oothecae, so the eggs in the oothecae are the things overwintering, cool summers might also matter to mantises.

Brunneria borealis

Iris polystictica (super cold hardy?)

Iris oratoria

Mantis religiosa religiosa (also super cold tolerant?)

Mantis religiosa polonica (super cold hardy?)

Mantis religiosa beybienkoi (super cold hardy?)

Litaneutria minor

Empusa pennata

Schizocephala bicornis (overwinters as nymphs?)

Stagmomantis californica

Stagmomantis carolina

Tenodera sinensis

Tenodera angustipennis

Hierodula transcaucasica

Hierodula patellifera

Statilia maculata

Orthodera novaezealandiae

Coptopteryx

Any more mantises to list?

So are these mantids able to survive extreme cold conditions, and do not require much heat when kept as pets? I.E no heat mat until certain VERY LOW temps? And does this mean they can survive from very low, to relatively high temps too? Or are these survivability factors only for the various species in the wild? I'd love to know which species that are shop bought, don't need to be religiously kept at higher temps for fear of them randomly dying

Which I am always worried about =/ as most shops say to keep most species at around mid 20s centigrade.
One would assume the ones raised in shops and captivity, require hotter conditions more often though, because they have been bred in warmer, more controlled conditions? Therefore the wild ones are hardier and used to colder temps? And shop bought ones may die if the temp drops substantially? like a heat mat failure during the winter for example.
Although some mantis sent via transport, do survive a couple of days in the box without heat packs, it seems.

Synapze · Dec 12, 2024

I've kept many Heterochaeta orientalis at 20° C (68° F) during the winter. I've never had a problem with feeding or health issues. Great longlived, cold tolerant species for people who don't want to fuss with heating systems.

Cold adapted mantis species

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