African Twig Mantis
vs Double Shield Mantis
Both species are rated beginner-level. Your choice comes down to what you want from the animal — appearance, size, lifespan, and personality differ significantly.
| African Twig Mantis | Double Shield Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Popa spurca | Pnigomantis medioconstricta |
| Care level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Adult size (female) | 8 cm | 9 cm |
| Adult size (male) | 7 cm | 8 cm |
| Lifespan | 8–12 months | 12–18 months |
| Temperature | 72–86°F | 68–86°F |
| Humidity | 40–50% | 50–60% |
| Instars (female) | 8 | 9 |
| Instars (male) | 7 | 8 |
| Diet | Will chase prey — flies, roaches (we don't feed crickets) | Aggressive eaters — anything from fruit flies (L1) to roaches, dubia, and small mice as adults |
| Communal? | No | No |
| Origin | Africa — Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and broadly across the continent | Flores Island, Indonesia |
Care Difficulty
Both species are rated Beginner. African Twig Mantis needs 40–50% humidity while Double Shield Mantis needs 50–60%. Temperature ranges overlap but check each species' care guide for specifics.
Size & Lifespan
Double Shield Mantis is the larger species. Double Shield Mantis lives longer on average. Females of both species live longer than males — this is universal across mantis species.
Appearance
African Twig Mantis: If you've never kept a mantis, start here. Bark-textured camouflage, will chase its food, tolerates dry indoor air, and lives a full year. The forgiving exotic. Double Shield Mantis: The aggressive eater. Stocky, mottled, with a uniquely constricted "double shield" pronotum and bright blue inner-arm markings. For keepers who want a mantis with attitude. Both are visually striking in completely different ways — check the photos above and the product pages for gallery images.
Best For
Both species are rated beginner-level. Your choice comes down to what you want from the animal — appearance, size, lifespan, and personality differ significantly. Both species are captive-bred at our facility in Las Vegas and ship with a live arrival guarantee.
African Twig Mantis
If you've never kept a mantis, start here. Bark-textured camouflage, will chase its food, tolerates dry indoor air, and lives a full year. The forgiving exotic.
Double Shield Mantis
The aggressive eater. Stocky, mottled, with a uniquely constricted "double shield" pronotum and bright blue inner-arm markings. For keepers who want a mantis with attitude.