Ghost Mantis
Phyllocrania paradoxa
A mantis dressed as a dead leaf
The ghost mantis is a small to medium mantis whose tan colour and jagged outline make it look just like a dead leaf, nearly invisible when at rest. It moves slowly and is gentle, relying on camouflage to hide from predators and ambush prey.
Key figures
- Length
- About 4.5–5 cm
- Camouflage
- Colour and outline mimic a dead leaf, hard to spot when still
- Life cycle
- The egg case overwinters; nymphs moult several times before adulthood
- Habitat
- Tropical savannas and scrub of Africa
- Diet
- Ambushes small insects such as flies and moths
- Feature
- An elongated prothorax and a leaf-like crest on the head
Life cycle
Egg → Nymph → Adult
Ecological role
It survives in leaf litter through mimicry, which also makes it a popular pet among mantis keepers.
Did you know
Ghost mantis nymphs can shift their body shade slightly with the environment, from pale yellow to dark brown.
Range
Sub-Saharan Africa
Status
Fairly common; a popular pet
Anatomy
- Raptorial legs — The front legs are sickle-shaped and strike like lightning as prey nears
- Head — Triangular and able to turn nearly 180 degrees to look around
- Compound eye — A pair of large compound eyes give stereoscopic vision for judging distance
- Wings — Dark markings on the wings add to the dead-leaf look when spread
- Abdomen — The jagged abdomen edge reinforces the leaf mimicry
- Prothorax — The long prothorax lets the raptorial legs snap toward prey
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