Theopropus rubrobrunneus

Theopropus rubrobrunneus – The flower mantis with a wow effect

Theopropus rubrobrunneus is one of the most beautiful praying mantises of all, as the animals imitate flowers and petals in an astonishingly realistic way. While many mantids rely on camouflage using branches or leaves, this species uses striking colors to hide perfectly in flowering vegetation.

Females in particular develop an impressive pattern of white, cream, yellow, red and brown tones. This makes the animals look more like an exotic flower than an insect.

Especially with adult females, it quickly becomes clear why this species is one of the most popular flower mantids worldwide.

Active, attentive and exciting to watch

In contrast to many other mantids Theopropus rubrobrunneus do not remain motionless in one place all day. Instead, the animals react attentively to their surroundings and often track potential prey with their eyes.

As soon as a food animal approaches, the mantid initially remains motionless. Only at the decisive moment do the tentacles spring forward, giving the prey hardly a chance.

This always creates exciting hunting scenes that can also be observed during the day.

Terrarium and furnishings

A well-ventilated terrarium with sufficient height is suitable for keeping them, as the animals prefer to sit in an elevated position and also need enough space to moult.

Particularly suitable:

• Repto Terra Sky
• Mantid terrariums
• Gazeterrariums

The furnishings can be somewhat brighter than with many other mantids. The following have proved particularly successful:

• light-colored branches
• Repto Plant Vines
• Flowering plants
• artificial flowers
• Fine climbing structures

This makes the colors of the animals stand out particularly well, while at the same time creating plenty of seating.

Climate and care

Theopropus rubrobrunneus prefers warm temperatures and increased humidity.

They have proven themselves:

• Temperature: 24-30 °C
• Humidity: 60-80 %

Regular spraying ensures that the animals can drink and at the same time creates a stable climate.

With a GLORIA fine sprayer can be used to distribute the moisture particularly finely so that the humidity increases without the terrarium becoming too wet.

Feeding

The species shows a good appetite and accepts various food animals without any problems.

Particularly suitable are:

• Fruit flies for young animals
• Gold flies
• Blowflies
• small crickets
• other suitable food insects

Flying food animals in particular are very popular, as they encourage natural hunting behavior and at the same time provide movement in the terrarium.

Offspring

Under good conditions Theopropus rubrobrunneus successfully reproduce. After mating, the females lay several oothecae, from which numerous young can later hatch.

Even the nymphs show amazing coloration, with the colors and contrasts becoming clearer with each moult. As a result, the appearance of the animals changes again and again as they grow.

The development of small nymphs into magnificently colored adults is one of the most exciting aspects of this species.

Important points on posture

• Well ventilated terrarium
• Warm temperatures
• Increased humidity
• Many seating and climbing areas
• Flying food animals ideal
• Eye-catching flower camouflage

Suitable accessories for your setup

For a natural and functional terrarium, we recommend:

• Mantid terrarium complete set – ideal mantid terrarium
• Repto Plant vines – additional climbing areas
• GLORIA fine sprayer – optimum humidity
• Large fruit fly – ideal food animal for L3
• Blowflies – promote natural hunting behavior in large mantids
• BraPlast tin – perfect for young animals
• Artificial flowers and light-colored branches – support the natural camouflage effect

This creates a varied setup, while the animals can show their colors and behavior optimally.

Conclusion

Theopropus rubrobrunneus is one of the most spectacular flower mantids in terraristics. The extraordinary colors, the sophisticated camouflage and the active hunting behavior make this species a real eye-catcher.

If you are looking for a mantid that not only looks fascinating, but also shows a lot of activity during the day, you will love Theopropus rubrobrunneus enjoy for a long time. Between flowers and branches, it impressively demonstrates how creatively nature can design camouflage.