Banded Flower Mantis

Theopropus elegans is the Banded Flower Mantis or Malaysian Flower Mantis. One of my all-time favorite mantis species, possibly for sentimental reasons. There was a time in the early Internet days of the hobby in the 90’s when we used to see Pseudocreobotra sp. and even occasionally Creobroter sp. in pet stores. They were among the earliest of exotic mantises to come into the US and both those genera are still captive-bred here in the US today (and often available on this site).

I took these photos back in the year 2000 when this species first came into the US hobby. They have a special place in my memory as the awesome “new” species that showed up in the US hobby 25 or so years ago, after years of familiarity with the “other” two flower mantis genera in a rather small and niche hobby. And I just love their banded patterning, rounded eyes and reading their scientific name still brings back my excitement for them from all those years ago.

L2/L3 nymphs (have shed their skin two or three times) at $18 each.