The orchid mantis is a praying mantis, which has got its name because it resembles the flower of an orchid with its four walking legs resembling flower petals. Most orchid mantises are white, but there is also a pink to purplish colour morph.
Females reach a total length of about 6 cm and have six abdominal segments. They are able to fly. They moult seven times until reaching adulthood, and their life span is about eight months. They are very aggressive and should be kept singly except for mating. Males are considerably smaller, just 2.5 to 3 cm long, and have eight abdominal segments. They moult just five times, and live for five to six months only. If ample food is provided they may be kept in groups. Males fly very well and mature far more quickly than females.
About two weeks after their last moult, females are ready to mate. Days or weeks after mating, they will lay their oothecae, i.e. clusters of eggs surrounded by a foam of protein, which are approximately 5 cm in length and are white in colour at first, but change to a light brown after a day or two. About 50 to 100 nymphs will hatch out within 5-6 weeks. The hatchlings will be red and black at first and will take on their white and pink colours after their first moult.
The diet of juveniles (nymphs) consists of small insects. Adults will eat anything they can catch, including a wide range of flying insects and small lizards. They obviously eat also little bits of banana.