About Sphodromantis viridis Forskal, 1775
Despite its scientific name (viridis is Latin for green), Sphodromantis viridis ranges in color from bright green to dull brown. Females can reach 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. Sexual dimorphism is typical of mantises, and males of this species are much smaller. Females can also be distinguished from males by their six-segmented abdomen, while males have an eight-segmented abdomen. As adults, both sexes have a distinctive white spot on their wings. The inner fore leg of Sphodromantis viridis is yellowish, which sets it apart from the European mantis Mantis religiosa — a species that shares part of its range and has a black eyespot and white dots on this area instead. Sphodromantis viridis is native to West Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It also occurs as an introduced species outside its native range, including in Israel and Spain. As with most mantis species, male S. viridis are frequently victims of sexual cannibalism. A few days after mating, a female produces an ootheca, and can produce several ootheca before the end of her lifecycle. Each ootheca can hatch up to 300 nymphs. This species has also been recorded reproducing parthenogenically. Because of its size and hardiness, S. viridis is popular with people who keep insects as pets. It is an easy species to keep, very suitable for beginners. They will happily take prey of their own size, and will also accept pieces of meat offered with tweezers. They are more tolerant of changes in humidity and temperature than many other mantis species. One mantis breeder notes that S. viridis is an attractive species for mantis enthusiasts due to its aggressiveness, making it ideal for anyone interested in observing a praying mantis chase down and greedily devour its prey. It is not as bulky as Sphodromantis lineola, but is aggressive regardless. This species was easy to raise; when fed plenty of roaches, crickets, and wild-caught flying insects, they will readily accept the food. Mating this species is not difficult. The male will initiate mating behavior, and females are more cooperative when well fed. A warm, well-heated enclosure held at about 90°F improves the likelihood of successful mating.
