African twig mantis is from African continent and adapt to hot and humid weather, but also tolerate to cool dry area. This species is very alert, they will turn into a "stick" whenever disturb by stretching its body and raptorial arm in a straight line mimicking tree stick. Hatchling of this species resembles ants and has a "bend" thorax which appeared to look like a deformed mantis from mismolting. They do not grow very fast but continue to feed whenever they have a chance. Hatchling of this species is black in color, but it slowly turn into dark brown when adult.
I kept this species on several occasion but i never breed them as i sold or trade all of them out. I have experienced hatches as large as 100 nymphs to as little as 30-40 nymphs. Hatchling feed on fruit flies without any problem but they need good ventilation. Keeping them together is not a wise idea as they often turn into their siblings when food source is limited. I hope to breed this species at least once but always found myself stucked with another working species as priority. But this year I hope to at least hatch an ooth and raise a batch to adulthood, it will pobably takes a full year to do that.
Continue with the latest development on this species via Mantis Log. See photo link for more photos of this species.
