How quickly can a Mantodea (or Praying mantis) change coloration?

Question

I have checked a few websites. They all said praying mantis' are masters of camouflage and make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. However, I haven't found anywhere that stated how long it takes the insect to change coloration if it moves from say a brownish area to a green leafy area.

ok, so there are different kinds and they don't change color. So the one I have sitting on my bamboo fencing, just naturally looks like bamboo fencing?

So how often do they moult? SO if my bamboo mantis got moved to a green area, how long, providing he idn't get eaten, would it take before he would start to take on the green color, if he could. I don't expect him to change like an octopus (almost instantaneous) or other creatures that can changes their coloration easily, thought there must be some kind of app. time frame... btw thanks for the additional information. I found a picture of one with a hmmingbird, not never of that either.

Answer 1

I can help you here, I keep praying mantids, and I've seen them go from brown to green - and back again..!

They do NOT simply 'change colour'! When they moult / shed their skin they have the option of taking on a colour that blends well with their surroundings. A mantis living among green grasses and green leaves usually appears green - and a mantis living among dried grasses or leaves usually appears brown.

The surroundings are not in total control though, I have 3 from the same egg-sack and one of them is now green all over, one is brown all over, and one is a beautiful blend of brown and green..! They all had the same sort of container to live and moult in, the same sort of fake plants to climb on, the same food and humidity ... but they've all matured with different colours. The brown one has been brown since about her fourth moult - before that they were ALL green. (She takes after their mother - which doesn't explain why the OTHER 3 don't!!)

Anyway, they are not capable of changing colour when they walk from brown dried grass onto a fresh green leaf. Only chameleons are reputed to do that, and I'm not sure how accurate THAT rumour is...!

You asked how long it would take your bamboo coloured mantis to turn green - if he has his wings already then he won't ever moult again. If he doesn't have his wings though, he will moult at least once more, but it could take a few more weeks! After one moult they need to stuff their faces, and they need enough time for their new exo-skeleton to get ready underneath the old one. If he does moult though, he might still end up brown - regardless of what colours you surround him with! Sometimes it's genetic (allegedly,) but I think that some of them just want to be awkward...

As for how many times they moult, it varies from species to species ... mine had 7 - including the one immediately after hatching - but some species could have 1 or 2 more (or less.)

There's a nice pic at the bottom of this page entitled 'see the wing buds' -
http://homepage.mac.com/skielb/PhotoAlbum3.html
If your mantis doesn't have wings yet, but does have wing buds like this, then he/she WILL get wings next time they moult! But I'm afraid that no-one can guarantee what colour he'll end up..!

Answer 2

Praying Mantis Brown

Answer 3

Brown Praying Mantis

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How quickly can a Mantodea (or Praying mantis) change coloration?
I have checked a few websites. They all said praying mantis' are masters of camouflage and make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. However, I haven't found anywhere that stated how long it takes...

Answer 5

Hehe, the reason none of the websites say it is because praying mantis does not change colors. There are hundreds of mantis species, from pink flowery looking ones to the common brown and green ones. But it is a myth that they change color or that they are different colors depending on their gender. Like someone else said, they have a permanent color.

Answer 6

i have a praying mantis in my window. It was originally green, then molted. It is now brown with wings. They absolutely do change color :)

Answer 7

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Answer 8

there are numerous varieties of praying mantis. All have permanent colorization that best suits their environment.

Answer 9

I caught one before it got out of the container we had it in and we found it the next day on the blue Venetian blinds just as blue as the blinds, it had not molted. When it was in a white container it was pale yellow. Not sure if there are different species that have different capabilities, but this one was from northern Califonia.

Answer 10

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