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Giant Asian Mantis (Hierodula membranacea)

Hierodula membranacea

The Hierodula membranacea, the Giant Asian Mantis. It is the archetype of the pet mantis: immense (females reach 3.5-4 inches and a massive size), very robust and of a vibrant Apple Green or Yellow. It is legendary for its voracity: having no venom, it captures flies, crickets and even vertebrates (occasionally) using exclusively the brutal mechanical strength of the raptorial legs. Extremely tolerant at an environmental level (withstands variable humidity and home temperatures well), it is recommended as a first mantis. Has a short life expectancy (about 1 year) which culminates with an intense phase of ootheca deposition. Totally lethal to conspecifics: must be isolated from an early age.

Taxonomy

Class:Insecta

Order:Mantodea

Family:Mantidae

Subfamily:Hierodulinae

Genus:Hierodula

Species:Hierodula membranacea

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

50 - 60 %

Day temperature

24 - 28 °C

Night temperature

20 - 22 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement beyond the cited facts above.

Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Hierodula membranacea Burmeister, 1838 at species rank. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy places Hierodula membranacea in the order Mantodea, family Mantidae and genus Hierodula. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts above.

Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts above.

Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts above.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: This proposal does not establish a terrarium setup.

Lighting and Heating: This proposal does not establish lighting or heating parameters.

Humidity and Hydration: This proposal does not establish humidity or hydration parameters.

Feeding and Supplementation: In the study, monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) raised on Asclepias curassavica and death’s-head hawkmoth caterpillars (Acherontia atropos) raised on Atropa belladonna were fed to Hierodula membranacea. The mantids removed the gut of both species, discarding about 59% of cardenolides and more than 90% of atropine, respectively. These are study observations; they do not recommend offering these prey or permit their administration.

Compatibility and Coexistence: The abstract also reports that, when mantids were fed larvae of Amata mogadorensis and Brahmaea certia raised on non-poisonous host plants, they showed the same gutting behaviour and discarded indigestible plant material. This is an experimental observation, not cohabitation guidance.

Health and Common Diseases: The abstract reports that ingestion of those compounds produced no apparent ill effects in the mantids and that both were excreted with faeces. This result is limited to the study and is not a clinical, general toxicological, or veterinary claim.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Sud-Est Asiatico (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, fino al Sud della Cina).

Origin

South and Southeast AsiaEast Asia

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 9 cm
Lifestyle/Microhabitat: No verified data available
Activity cycle: No verified data available
Sociality: No verified data available
Reproduction: No verified data available
Venom level: No verified data available
Handling tolerance: No verified data available
Brumation: No verified data available
Molting: No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Giant Australian Mantis (Hierodula majuscula)

African Lined Mantis (Sphodromantis lineola)

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis)

Recommended companions

Corn Snake (Anerythristic)

Corn Snake (Palmetto)

Corn Snake (Snow)

White's Tree Frog (Blue-eyed Leucistic)

Similar care

Domino Roach (Therea petiveriana)

Mexican Rose Grey Tarantula (Tliltocatl verdezi)

Asian Whip Scorpion (Thelyphonus doriae)

Giant Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus)