Indian Rose Mantis Gonglus gongylodes Wondering Violin Mantis 3 of 3

This Indian Rose Mantis (Gongylus Gongylodes) also known as the Wondering Violin Mantis is one of the most unique, bizarre looking mantids in the... more

by Leslie Crotty

Title

Indian Rose Mantis Gonglus gongylodes Wondering Violin Mantis 3 of 3

Artist

Leslie Crotty

Medium

Photograph

Description

This Indian Rose Mantis (Gongylus Gongylodes) also known as the Wondering Violin Mantis is one of the most unique, bizarre looking mantids in the mantis species. I often wonder where some of the science fiction movies like "Alien" get there ideas from! This is one insect they might have! It's long prothorax gives it the image of a violin (hence it's name). It can be found in Southern India and Sri Lanka. The males can fly very well and possess long Feathery Antennas. Females can reach lengths up to about 4" while their male counterparts 31/4 to 31/2". The females wings will only cover 75% of their abdomen while the male will have full usable wings. When having these little guys as pets their cage should be well ventilated with lots of little twigs or branches for them to perch on. They love hanging upside down, usually catching their flying prey this way eating them alive! A few of them can be housed together in the same enclosure, just make sure there's plenty of flies for them to share.They are extremely quick catching their prey. When young you can start them out on fruit flies, then after the first few molts as that start to grow you can give them house flies, small butterflies and moths. They will usually stop eating a few days prior to molting "emerging out of their old bodies with a new larger one". It takes about 2 weeks between each molt when very young then increase as they get older, after about 7 molts 21/2 to 3 months later they mature as adults! During molting it is extremely important that there not disturbed and the humidity is at a safe level (40% to 50%).They will hang upside down on the screen of the enclosure or a branch and shake or spasm violently. After a while (1 to 2 hours) it worms out of it's old skin and will hang out to dry! After trying off for a day or two it will resume it's normal activity and start to eat again. This was a fascinating experience for me to watch, and something everyone should witness in their lifetime, "Nature at it's best". I really have to give a lot of the credit to my stepson Orville, without his love for Nature and help raising these little guys to adulthood this photograph would not have been possible. I hope everyone enjoys viewing this "Wondering Violin Mantis" as much as I did, photographing it!

Uploaded

January 4th, 2013