What Are Malaysian Shield Mantis?
Commonly known as the Malaysian Shield Mantis, Rhombodera basalis is part of the Mantidae family.
This species gets its common name from the fact that it looks like it’s sporting a wide shield behind its back.
Native to Malaysia, these tropical insects are eye-catching and easy to care for.
They are also known to have outstanding camouflage ability due to their posturing and coloring.
With their wide-reaching forelegs and their body shape, they blend into the background easily when threatened.
What Does Malaysian Shield Mantis Look Like?
The Malaysian Shield Mantis is an exotic piece of nature that can make a unique inhabitant of any pet owner’s terrarium.
This large mantis can reach a maximum size of about 6 inches long and comes in a variety of different colors, depending on its surroundings.
Its adaptive camouflage helps keep it safe from predators.
It has two large eyes at the top of its head and two smaller eyes located further down on its face.
It also has two antennae at the front of its face to detect any movement nearby.
Its head is large and triangular and its body is mostly a forest green, although its coloring may vary.
Additionally, it has long, slender legs that allow it to climb and grab food.
Its two arms are held together by a thin membrane to form a “shield”, giving it its name.
Benefits Of Using Malaysian Shield Mantis
Rhombodera basalis makes incredibly interesting and gorgeous pets for any vivarium.
Not only do they provide an interesting focal point for the tank, but they also act as living pest control, helping you to keep nuisance bugs and flies away from your other occupants!
They are quite durable, hardy, and relatively easy to care for, making them an ideal choice for beginner pet owners or those with limited experience.
Furthermore, the Malaysian Shield Mantis comes in an array of different colors and patterns, adding an extra splash of color to your enclosure.
With the right setup and care, you can keep these fascinating insects healthy and content for more than a year!
Malaysian Shield Mantis Facts
Rhombodera basalis is a tropical species found primarily in Malaysia and Singapore, boasting an impressive adult size of several inches.
These intelligent creatures are famous for their aggressive hunting behavior and unique, triangular-shaped ‘shields’ along their backs.
They feed primarily on live insects and have a typically long lifespan of almost two years.
Breeding cycles are cued by changes in temperature, and females will produce numerous eggs that can be incubated until hatching.
Habitat
The Malaysian Shield Mantis is a species of praying mantis native to Southeast Asia, especially the Malaysian peninsula.
Its natural habitat includes tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, grasslands, and areas near streams and rivers.
This mantis typically inhabits humid environments with ample foliage and moisture.
The Malaysian Shield Mantis is a voracious predator, eating insects such as flies, beetles, and other small arthropods.
They play an important role in controlling pest populations in the wild.
Create the perfect home for your mantis with our Customizable Mantis Enclosure Kits, designed to meet all their habitat needs.
Diet
The Malaysian Shield Mantis is a carnivorous species that requires a diet of live (preferably flying) prey items in their natural habitat.
Commonly eaten prey include crickets, flies, smaller mantids, and most other insects they can catch.
They may also occasionally consume some small spiders and other arachnids for a protein boost.
In the wild, adults typically feed on other larger insects, whereas the nymphs will tend to eat small insects like fruit flies.
Temperament
The Malaysian Shield Mantis is a solitary creature, so it does not require much interaction with humans.
In fact, due to their passive nature, they are quite content to be left alone in their enclosure on their own.
That said, it is still important to handle Rhombodera basalis with care, as they can become stressed by rough handling.
As with most mantises, this species is not aggressive and poses no harm to humans or other animals.
As a general rule, it is not recommended to house multiple Shield Mantises together, as they have the potential to cannibalize each other.
Although R. basalis is docile and harmless around humans and other animals, it should still be kept out of reach of small children and curious pets as a precaution.
Lifespan
The lifespan of the Malaysian Shield Mantis is typically between 12 to 18 months, with females typically living longer than males.
In their short lives, they will go through all their life stages.
After hatching from an egg, they go through six instar stages, meaning they molt six times throughout their lifespan.
As they molt, they grow larger and become more winged and mature in their appearance.
During their growth from an immature nymph to an adult, they feed on various insects that range in consumable size.
After reaching adulthood, they become sexually mature and ready to mate.
Breeding
Malaysian Shield Mantis reproduce via sexual reproduction.
The first stage of reproduction starts when the female releases pheromones into the air to attract a mate.
The male will pick up on these scents and fly or climb to the female to mate. Once they have mated, the female will lay her eggs in a protective ootheca.
The ootheca can range from sizes of 1 cm to over 10 cm, containing anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred eggs.
Depending on the environmental temperature, the eggs will hatch in anywhere from two to eight weeks.
Once the eggs hatch, the young nymphs will feed on aphids or small fruit fly larvae.
As they continue to eat and molt, they will become larger and eventually reach adulthood.
To ensure the health of the Malaysian Shield Mantis, it is important to provide a habitat that is suitable for reproduction and growth.
Where To Find Malaysian Shield Mantis
Finding Rhombodera basalis for sale can be a tricky task as they are not widely available.
Your local pet store may carry them, but it is good to ask about food and habitat availability before purchase.
These mantids require a specific set-up and can be difficult to keep alive if not properly cared for.
In the wild, Malaysian Shield Mantis can be found in the tropical rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia.
If you cannot locate one in the wild, hobby breeders also offer captive-bred specimens online.
While hobby breeder mantids are typically hardier and more readily adapt to captivity, use caution when ordering online as wild-caught specimens may be stressed or carry parasites.
When purchasing, make sure the vendor is reputable and can provide details on care requirements.
