I was looking around a little and haven't seen much info on this species and even the name is uncertain. Does anybody have intersting details about biology or life history? I hear it's from Malaysia and is as easy to keep as Heirodula. I remember when a shield mantis was near the top of the list enthusiasts were dying to get but I hear this one arrived a few years ago with little fanfare and is still around only because it's rather easy to keep going rather than interest.
Rhombodera 'giant shield'
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JoeCapricorn
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I have six of these, not adult yet, but they are quite fascinating. Funny you mentioned Hierodula, their threat pose is almost exactly the same - they even have black in between the segments of their abdomen that are exposed when they flatten their abdomen. Hierodula membranacea have this and a red spot as well.
Behavior wise, what I've noticed from them - they tend to be skittish. When something startles them they'll look at it and narrow their antennae. Then they either go into a threat pose, or they skitter off. They are very fast when frightened and I've almost lost a couple in my room due to this. After running off, they will flatten themselves close to whatever surface they are on to mimic a leaf and aid in camouflage. However, it isn't even seconds later that they can be coaxed onto my hand and they behave normally.
Life history wise, it seems both males and females develop at the same rate. Although it remains to be seen who will become adult first, I am guessing the males followed shortly by the females.
Size wise they aren't as big as any Hierodula I have kept. The females I have are sub-adult and yet still just a tad larger than an adult P. wahlbergii. I think it kind of defeats the purpose of calling them "giant shield" - if they wind up about the same size as Mantis religiosa, is that about the right size they are supposed to be?
They are quite aggressive, the sub-adult females will gladly take a meal worm and all of them will chase down crickets. I've had them on small crickets starting at 5th instar.
They are easy to raise. I haven't had a bad molt. I have only had bad dreams about finding one on the bottom, but in reality they seem to have no problem molting. The six I started with are the six I have now.
Behavior wise, what I've noticed from them - they tend to be skittish. When something startles them they'll look at it and narrow their antennae. Then they either go into a threat pose, or they skitter off. They are very fast when frightened and I've almost lost a couple in my room due to this. After running off, they will flatten themselves close to whatever surface they are on to mimic a leaf and aid in camouflage. However, it isn't even seconds later that they can be coaxed onto my hand and they behave normally.
Life history wise, it seems both males and females develop at the same rate. Although it remains to be seen who will become adult first, I am guessing the males followed shortly by the females.
Size wise they aren't as big as any Hierodula I have kept. The females I have are sub-adult and yet still just a tad larger than an adult P. wahlbergii. I think it kind of defeats the purpose of calling them "giant shield" - if they wind up about the same size as Mantis religiosa, is that about the right size they are supposed to be?
They are quite aggressive, the sub-adult females will gladly take a meal worm and all of them will chase down crickets. I've had them on small crickets starting at 5th instar.
They are easy to raise. I haven't had a bad molt. I have only had bad dreams about finding one on the bottom, but in reality they seem to have no problem molting. The six I started with are the six I have now.
PhilinYuma
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Good husbandry (6 for 6), Joe, and a helpful post.
JoeCapricorn
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I was 8 for 8 with Hierodula membranacea when I first started in the hobby, the molting troubles began when they molted to adult - then I was 6 for 8 with 4 of them being perfect molts.
So knock on wood with these babies. Nowadays I am a lot more cautious and observant, when one is about to molt I make sure they have water, space and a good foothold. Over a week ago I had my first molt that would have been a fatal mismolt if I had not been there to literally hold the mantis by her feet to the stick she was clinging on.
So knock on wood with these babies. Nowadays I am a lot more cautious and observant, when one is about to molt I make sure they have water, space and a good foothold. Over a week ago I had my first molt that would have been a fatal mismolt if I had not been there to literally hold the mantis by her feet to the stick she was clinging on.
dgerndt
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I was looking into getting a type of Shield mantis soon. I've only ever heard good things about them.
JoeCapricorn
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One of my shield males molted to sub-adult, and now I see that the other 5 aren't even sub-adult yet. They have wing buds but they aren't nearly as large as the ones on the back of this fella.
JoeCapricorn
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The wingbuds seem a bit larger than sub-adult wingbuds I've seen on any other species. In fact, there are a couple things about this species that is proportionally larger than on a comparable Hierodula (for example)
First is the distinctive pronotum, which earns them their name, but there is a slight widening of the abdomen, larger wings compared to the body (by looking at the wing buds) and longer antennae. The eyes are also slightly larger.
First is the distinctive pronotum, which earns them their name, but there is a slight widening of the abdomen, larger wings compared to the body (by looking at the wing buds) and longer antennae. The eyes are also slightly larger.
Borya
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Usually Hierodulas and Sphodros change their colour from green to brown very easily - they just require to be placed at brownish background right after the molt and be lighted well for next 3-4 days, with luminescent tubes, for instance. Despite them, Rhombodera is rather conservative at this point. I have raised 10 larvae from L3-4 to imago on a background made of red paper napkins with brown branches for climbing. Abovementioned species turn brown in their most at this conditions, but all Rhomboderas stayed green.
The only brown Rhombodera I saw in the net is pre-imago on Yen Saw's page; after the final molt she turned green also, he said.
The only brown Rhombodera I saw in the net is pre-imago on Yen Saw's page; after the final molt she turned green also, he said.
JoeCapricorn
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Figured I'd post in this thread an update.
All of my Rhombodera are adults. Pretty sure these are R. basalis.
I have four females and two males, there are two females that are smaller than the other two females - but still their size is comparable to my adult female H. multispina that I had last year.
The two larger females are about the same length as a D. lobata female. The head is larger though.
The males are almost the same length but considerably skinnier. They remind me slightly of my H. membrenacea males, only quite smaller.
Behavior wise, the females are no less jumpy. One is quite chill and likes to sit on my desk, but I've acclimated her to this for a while. The first female to molt to adult is still very easily startled and will run off at quite a high speed. Not as fast as when she was sub-adult or younger, but still quite speedy.
The ease of raising these is quite remarkable. No health problems in any six of these mantises throughout their time. First female to molt to adult has slightly mal-formed wings, they didn't seem to expand fully enough. Second has a very slight disfigurement in the wings, they don't close completely flush. The other two females and the two males have perfect wings. For some of them there are slight spots in their eyes, probably from mechanical rubbing, but these don't affect their eyesight. This shouldn't even be much of an issue now since I got larger containers specially for them.
All of my Rhombodera are adults. Pretty sure these are R. basalis.
I have four females and two males, there are two females that are smaller than the other two females - but still their size is comparable to my adult female H. multispina that I had last year.
The two larger females are about the same length as a D. lobata female. The head is larger though.
The males are almost the same length but considerably skinnier. They remind me slightly of my H. membrenacea males, only quite smaller.
Behavior wise, the females are no less jumpy. One is quite chill and likes to sit on my desk, but I've acclimated her to this for a while. The first female to molt to adult is still very easily startled and will run off at quite a high speed. Not as fast as when she was sub-adult or younger, but still quite speedy.
The ease of raising these is quite remarkable. No health problems in any six of these mantises throughout their time. First female to molt to adult has slightly mal-formed wings, they didn't seem to expand fully enough. Second has a very slight disfigurement in the wings, they don't close completely flush. The other two females and the two males have perfect wings. For some of them there are slight spots in their eyes, probably from mechanical rubbing, but these don't affect their eyesight. This shouldn't even be much of an issue now since I got larger containers specially for them.
PhilinYuma
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Yeah. Katnapper and I raised these about two years ago and raising them was pretty much problem free, despite the fact that mine were exposed to much too little humidity. I never had a successful mating, though, and I can't remember if Becky did.
They are a very attractive species, and if I get a chance to raise them again, I shall raise them in net cubes with a RH of around 85% and a temp of 80+F. That temp is easy for me to maintain at ambient RH, but at that hunidity I shall have to use lamps. I'm learning, slowly. B)
The Rh and T are designed to aproximate the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. I looked at the new IGM list and this is where the only captive culture recorded comes from* The group is still doubtful about the species name and calls it Rhobodera cf basilis.
*One tourist sit on the 'net talks about how nice and cool it is in the highlands. I guess that everything is relative.
They are a very attractive species, and if I get a chance to raise them again, I shall raise them in net cubes with a RH of around 85% and a temp of 80+F. That temp is easy for me to maintain at ambient RH, but at that hunidity I shall have to use lamps. I'm learning, slowly. B)
The Rh and T are designed to aproximate the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. I looked at the new IGM list and this is where the only captive culture recorded comes from* The group is still doubtful about the species name and calls it Rhobodera cf basilis.
*One tourist sit on the 'net talks about how nice and cool it is in the highlands. I guess that everything is relative.
sporeworld
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Do any of you have pics of this species as adult...?
