SpeciesOrchid mantis
Orchid mantis
Hymenopus coronatus
It looks like a flower and is built for exactly that: prey comes to it. More demanding than the usual species and considerably more sensitive to the wrong humidity.
- Group
- Mantis
- Level
- Intermediate
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
Where the species comes from
- World region
- Southeast Asia
- Countries
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand
- Habitat
- Rainforest, on flowers and leaves
The app does not yet hold an origin entry for this species. The distribution given here comes from the specialist literature.
The natural habitat is the yardstick for how you furnish an enclosure. Knowing where an animal comes from is knowing why it needs heat zones, hides and a particular humidity.
Husbandry at a glance
The same details appear in the animal’s profile inside the app.
- Enclosure
- 20 × 20 × 30 cm, well ventilated.
- Temperature
- 26–30 °C by day, 22 °C at night.
- Humidity
- 60–80 %, mist lightly every day. Waterlogging is fatal.
- Lighting
- No special lighting needed.
- Substrate
- Coco humus.
- Furnishings
- Fine twigs and a mesh lid to hang from, free space for moulting.
- Water
- Droplets on the walls.
- Feeding
- Flying prey is preferred: Flies rather than crickets. Every two days.
- Behaviour
- Diurnal, lying in wait on flowers. Juveniles are red and black and mimic a bug.
- Handling
- Very fragile, better to refrain.
- Cohabitation
- Kept singly.
- Health
- Sensitive to waterlogging and poor ventilation.
- Seasonal cycle
- No rest period; life expectancy about one year.
- Safety
- No permit required.
Legal position in Switzerland
No permit foreseen
No permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
No certificate of competence foreseen
No proof of competence required. It is only demanded for the animals named in Art. 89 of the Ordinance
No CITES listing
Not listed in the CITES appendices: Import and transfer require no species-protection papers. Keep the proof of purchase nonetheless
Minimum enclosure dimensions
The Animal Welfare Ordinance does not apply to these animals: under Art. 1 it governs the handling of vertebrates, cephalopods and reptant decapods. There are therefore no minimum dimensions. Housing, climate and places to retreat should still match the needs of the species. The cantonal veterinary office can say whether cantonal rules apply, for example to venomous animals.
What the enclosure must provide
Escape-proof closure, humidity and temperature suited to the species, a hide and climbing structure.
Paperwork
Keep a receipt bearing the scientific name. Never release invertebrates into the wild: Even seemingly harmless species can establish themselves.
These details are a guide, not legal advice. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office; the text of the ordinance is what counts. More on the legal position
