Creobroter pictipennis
The Indian flower mantis — small, fast, and colourful with striking eye-spot wing displays.
About Creobroter pictipennis
Creobroter pictipennis is a small flower mantis from the Indian subcontinent. Adults are green with a cream or white stripe running along the wings, and when threatened they flash their hindwings to reveal bold eye-spot markings — a startle display designed to deter predators.
This species undergoes incomplete metamorphosis, as all mantids do. Nymphs hatch from an ootheca and moult through successive instars to reach adulthood. Adults are compact at 3–4 cm, active, and notably quick — faster than many commonly kept species.
C. pictipennis is rated intermediate because its small size makes feeding and humidity management slightly more demanding than larger, hardier beginner species. It is not difficult, but it requires a bit more attention to detail.
Enclosure
Height is critical for moulting. The enclosure needs a minimum of three times the mantis's body length in height — at least 12 cm for adults — with a mesh or textured ceiling. Smooth ceilings cause fatal moult failures.
- A small net cage or tall deli cup with mesh lid works well given the species' small size
- Provide thin twigs and small fake flowers for perching and ambush sites
- Good ventilation — cross-ventilation if possible — to prevent mould at the higher humidity this species prefers
- House individually. Cannibalism is predatory, not hunger-driven, and this small species is no exception
Temperature & humidity
C. pictipennis prefers slightly warmer conditions than the common beginner species. Keep at 24–28°C during the day. A heat mat on the side of the enclosure is usually necessary in UK homes, especially in winter.
Mist lightly once daily to maintain 60–75% humidity. The mantis will drink droplets from the walls. Because this species is small, even a light misting goes a long way — avoid waterlogging the enclosure.
Feeding
The small size of C. pictipennis means prey selection requires a bit more care. Offer live prey only, sized appropriately — no larger than the raptorial forelegs.
- Early nymphs: D. melanogaster fruit flies
- Later nymphs: D. hydei fruit flies, micro crickets
- Adults: houseflies, small crickets, greenbottle flies
Feed every 2–3 days. These mantids are active hunters and will chase prey, unlike more sedentary ambush species. As always, avoid overfeeding — a bloated abdomen is a moult risk.
Behaviour & handling
C. pictipennis is fast and flighty. Adults are strong flyers, especially males, and will readily take off if startled. Handling is possible but not recommended for inexperienced keepers — an escaped small mantis is very difficult to recapture. If you do handle, work over a contained area and move slowly.
The eye-spot threat display is one of this species' most appealing features. When disturbed, the mantis raises its wings to reveal the conspicuous markings — a bluff that makes it look larger and more dangerous than it is.