Around 2000 species of praying mantids are found throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

They are one of the most adapted insects, hiding among leaves, twigs and flowers lying in wait for their smaller relatives to come within range. They strike quickly using their spiky forelegs to grasp their prey and cling on as they devour it.

All praying mantids are insectivorous and handle prey almost their own size. They will be content with a diet of crickets, locusts or flies. Young nymphs must be kept separately, as they are cannibalistic.

They should be kept in tall plastic beakers with mesh lids, with a small twig for the mantid to cling to and be sprayed every day so that they can drink. To feed them, place small insects in the beaker and replenish the supply when they have all been eaten. As they grow the nymphs will need larger cages.

The mantid will molt as it grows and becomes adult after about six months and around six molts. At this stage, the wings will appear, males are much more slender than females and also smaller overall. In certain species the males are rather sticklike and brown, whereas the females are more leaf like and green. Others vary in colour and can look like dead leaves or small orchid flowers.