Spiny Flower Mantis
vs African Twig 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.
| Spiny Flower Mantis | African Twig Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii | Popa spurca |
| Care level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Adult size (female) | 5 cm | 8 cm |
| Adult size (male) | 4 cm | 7 cm |
| Lifespan | 6–12 months | 6–12 months |
| Temperature | 70–80°F | 68–86°F |
| Humidity | 40–60% | 40–60% |
| Molts to adult (female) | 7 (adult at L8) | 8 (adult at L9) |
| Molts to adult (male) | 6 (adult at L7) | 7 (adult at L8) |
| Diet | Flies at every stage, plus moths and small roaches (we don't feed crickets) | Will chase prey: flies, roaches (we don't feed crickets) |
| Communal? | No | No |
| Origin | East and southern Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar |
Care Difficulty
Both species are rated Beginner. Spiny Flower Mantis needs 40–60% humidity while African Twig Mantis needs 40–60%. Temperature ranges overlap but check each species' care guide for specifics.
Size & Lifespan
African Twig Mantis is the larger species. Both species have similar lifespans. Females of both species typically live longer than males.
Appearance
Spiny Flower Mantis: Walking artwork. Two black-outlined spiral eyespots on the wings flash open in a deimatic display that startles predators. Beginner-friendly with a showstopping threat pose. 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
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 on Priority Overnight.
Spiny Flower Mantis
Walking artwork. Two black-outlined spiral eyespots on the wings flash open in a deimatic display that startles predators. Beginner-friendly with a showstopping threat pose.
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.