Orchid Mantis
vs African Twig Mantis
If you're new to mantis keeping, the African Twig Mantis is the clear choice — beginner-friendly care with forgiving temperature and humidity requirements.
| Orchid Mantis | African Twig Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hymenopus coronatus | Popa spurca |
| Care level | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Adult size (female) | 6.5 cm | 8 cm |
| Adult size (male) | 2.5 cm | 7 cm |
| Lifespan | 5–10 months | 6–12 months |
| Temperature | 72–85°F | 68–86°F |
| Humidity | 60–80% | 40–60% |
| Molts to adult (female) | 8 (adult at L9) | 8 (adult at L9) |
| Molts to adult (male) | 6 (adult at L7) | 7 (adult at L8) |
| Diet | Flying insects: fruit flies → houseflies → bottle flies and moths | Will chase prey: flies, roaches (we don't feed crickets) |
| Communal? | No | No |
| Origin | Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia | Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar |
Care Difficulty
Orchid Mantis is rated Intermediate while African Twig Mantis is Beginner. The main differences are in humidity requirements (60–80% vs 40–60%) and temperature sensitivity.
Size & Lifespan
African Twig Mantis is the larger species. African Twig Mantis lives longer on average. Females of both species typically live longer than males.
Appearance
Orchid Mantis: The world's most photogenic mantis. Pink-and-white petal-mimicking limbs, native to Southeast Asian rainforests. Sought after globally for stunning visual displays. African Twig Mantis: If you've never kept a mantis, start here. Bark-textured camouflage, will chase its food, tolerates dry indoor air, and females live close to a year. The forgiving exotic. Both are visually striking in completely different ways — check the photos above and the product pages for gallery images.
Best For
If you're new to mantis keeping, the African Twig Mantis is the clear choice — beginner-friendly care with forgiving temperature and humidity requirements. Both species are captive-bred at our facility in Las Vegas and ship with a live arrival guarantee on Priority Overnight.
Orchid Mantis
The world's most photogenic mantis. Pink-and-white petal-mimicking limbs, native to Southeast Asian rainforests. Sought after globally for stunning visual displays.
African Twig Mantis
If you've never kept a mantis, start here. Bark-textured camouflage, will chase its food, tolerates dry indoor air, and females live close to a year. The forgiving exotic.