Asian Brown Praying Mantis (Hierodula membranacea)
The color of the Giant Asian Mantis is usually green, but there are also yellow, beige and brown varieties. The beige individuals can even seem a bit pinkish. The difference in colour is mainly due to the environment in which the animal is kept. They can develop a different colour in a matter of days, but it is not yet understood which conditions will trigger a change in colour.
Hierodula membranacea is one of the largest mantis species that is successfully kept in captivity. Adult females are about 3,5 inches long (8 – 9 cm), while males are a bit smaller with their 3 inches (7 – 8 cm). The males are also much thinner and lighter than the females. The wings of a male extend to just past the abdomen. The adult females are bigger and bulkier than the males, with wings that extend just to the abdomen.
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