The Giant Shield Mantis is part of the Rhombodera genus of mantis which contains many different species below it. All specimens in this genus are large, native throughout Asia, and are known to possess some kind of shield or extended leaf-shaped thorax.
They have voracious appetites, and it is fascinating to watch them aggressively hunt down fairly large prey! They are not your sit and wait kind of predators, like so many other mantises.The Giant Shield mantis (Rhombodera megaera) is most often green, and is known for the enlarged oval shaped thorax (aka "shield") of which it possesses.
These mantises can be kept successfully in a living vivarium with live plants and microfauna, or in a temporary enclosure such as a mesh cage or screen cage, with silk plants (such as an Ivy Branch, Leafy Branch, Orchid Flower, or White Flower) and an easily disposable substrate such as sphagnum moss, or even just a paper towel that you can change once a week. They are generally a hardy species and will be happy in any enclosure that is big enough for them. These mantises are one of the most highly cannibalistic of all mantis species, and should be individually housed after the second instar.
