Phyllocrania paradoxa  (Burmeister, 1868) –
Ghost Mantis

Introduction

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Phyllocrania (Latin for leaf – head) is one of the most iconic mantises in the hobby. They are easy to care for, have exquisite camouflage, and are very calm. These factors combined with the fact that this species is fairly communal means that they are a great colony species.

 

Hailing from most places in Africa with moderate rainfall, this cryptic mantis species is almost impossible to find in the wild. Their tall flat crests and raised and flattened leg and abdomen lobes mean they are easily lost in a tree or bush full of leaves. Their ability to hide so well has earned them the name ghost mantis, as if they were a specter watching for prey unseen. They have a preference for flying prey, as they will not stalk their prey actively unless very hungry.

 

Males and females in this genus are very different as adults, with females being much more robust and heavy with solid colored wings. Males will have clearwings that appear to have an almost chocolate striping to them. Both sexes are very hardy and live much longer than in species their size, making them excellent pets. Females have been reported to live up to 2 years!

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Sexing

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As with all mantises, males have 8 external sternites, and females have 6. In this species, males have thing scraggly crests, while females have wider smoother crests. Both sexes have 8 instars, though some individuals may molt to adult at instar 7 (rarely)

 

Keeping

 

Phyllocrania can be kept communally until sub adult (instar 7), after which it is advisable to separate into same sex communals. They become more territorial at this stage to smaller individuals so ample space should be provided.  Offering multiple perches via sticks or plants is recommended for communal setups to help avoid conflict. This species can climb plastic well when young, but has some difficulty once they become adults.

 

Recommended space is as follows:

 

Instar 1 – 3: 8 oz Deli Cup

Instar 4 - Adult: 32 oz Deli Cup

 

Feeding

 

Instar 1 - 3  – Drosophila species

Instar 4 – Adult – Houseflies, Blue bottle flies, Small Crickets, Roaches

 

Breeding

 

Standard mantis mating practices will suffice for this genus. Place the male on a branch and give him some time to calm down. Once both the male and female are 3 – 4 weeks old, mating can occur. Place the female around 6 – 8 inches away from him and prod her to move. Once the male sees the female he will watch her carefully and attempt to get in a position to mount. Males in this species are skittish, so this process may take several hours.

 

Once mating begins, they will mate for anywhere from 4 – 8 hours. After mating is finished, the male will detach and fly away on his own. Females will lay an oothecae after 1 – 2 weeks, containing anywhere from 20 - 40 nymphs. After an incubation period of 4 – 6 weeks at 60 – 80% humidity, they will emerge at once (though in rare cases it may take up to a few days). Once emerged, nymphs will be fairly active and vaguely resemble black ants. They can begin to feed after 24 – 36 hours.