Praying mantises are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet in captivity must consist exclusively of live insects. Providing a diverse nutritional intake is paramount for a captive mantis to ensure proper development, successful molting, and a long lifespan. Hobbyists often seek out readily available feeders like the mealworm, which raises the question of its suitability as a primary food source. This article explores the specific role of the mealworm in a mantis’s diet, outlining the advantages and, more importantly, the potential drawbacks of this common feeder insect.
The Role of Mealworms in a Mantis Diet
While praying mantises will readily consume Tenebrio molitor larvae, or mealworms, they are generally considered suboptimal for a staple diet. The nutritional profile of the mealworm is characterized by a high fat content and a comparatively low protein ratio compared to other insects. Feeding a mantis a diet dominated by high-fat larvae can lead to long-term health complications.
A significant concern is the mealworm’s dense, chitinous exoskeleton. Chitin is a tough, fibrous polysaccharide that is difficult for a mantis to digest, especially in smaller or less robust specimens. This hard outer shell can lead to digestive issues, including gut impaction, which is a serious and potentially fatal condition. Live mealworms are composed of about 13% fat and 20% protein, a ratio that does not meet the needs for optimal growth and reproduction in many mantis species.
Safe Feeding Practices and Size Considerations
Mealworms should only be offered as an occasional treat to adult or sub-adult mantises, not as a primary food source. If a keeper chooses to use them, certain practices are necessary to mitigate the risks associated with the hard exoskeleton and the worm’s ability to defend itself. The mealworm possesses strong mandibles and may bite a mantis, particularly a smaller one, during the capture process.
A common method to ensure safety and easier consumption is to crush the mealworm’s head immediately before offering it to the mantis, which eliminates the risk of a retaliatory bite. Another method is to feed only mealworms that have just molted, recognizable by their soft, white, newly emerged exoskeleton. Furthermore, mealworms are typically too large and physically demanding for young nymphs, generally L1 to L3 instars, which require much smaller prey like fruit flies.
Recommended Feeder Insects for Optimal Health
A superior diet for a captive praying mantis prioritizes a high protein-to-fat ratio and soft-bodied prey that is easy to digest. Small nymphs thrive on flightless fruit flies, such as Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila hydei, which are easily cultured and appropriately sized for the youngest instars. As the mantis grows, keepers should transition to alternative flying insects.
Blue bottle flies and green bottle flies are highly recommended due to their high protein content and the natural hunting stimulation they provide, especially for mantis species that prefer flying prey. Other excellent, high-protein feeders include:
- Silent crickets
- Locusts
- Small Dubia roaches, with the latter often boasting a protein content around 23%
Regardless of the insect chosen, its nutritional value can be increased through a process called gut-loading, where the feeder insect is fed a highly nutritious diet shortly before being offered to the mantis.