Phyllocrania

Taxobox |

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Phyllocrania paradoxa"
name = "Phyllocrania paradoxa"
regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Mantodea
subordo = Dictyoptera
familia = Hymenopodidae
subfamilia = Acromantinae
tribus = Epaphroditini
genus = "Phyllocrania"
species = "P. paradoxa"
binomial = "Phyllocrania paradoxa"
binomial_authority = (Burmeister, 1838)

"Phyllocrania paradoxa", common name Ghost Mantis, is a small species of praying mantis from Africa remarkable for its leaf-like body. It is the sole member of its genus. [ [http://www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/mantid.html] pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk] [ [http://www.phasmidsincyberspace.com/PhyllocraniaParadoxa.html] PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005 ] [ [http://www.prayingmantid.co.uk/portfolio24332.html] PrayingMantid.co.uk] [ [http://bugs.org/GalleryPages/leaf_mantis_back.shtml] 2006 Bugman Educational Entoprises]

Description

Compared to many other Mantodea, the Ghost Mantis is a "miniature species" [ [http://www.prayingmantid.co.uk/portfolio24332.html] PrayingMantid.co.uk] growing to only 45 to 50 mm long. [ [http://www.phasmidsincyberspace.com/PhyllocraniaParadoxa.html] PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005 ]

It comes in various brownish shades from very dark brown (almost black) to greenish gray. An individual's colors change between molts and are also dependent on light and humidity levels. [ [http://www.phasmidsincyberspace.com/PhyllocraniaParadoxa.html] PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005 ] [ [http://www.prayingmantid.co.uk/portfolio24332.html] PrayingMantid.co.uk]

"P. paradoxa" is camouflaged so as to appear as dead, dried-up leaf material. [ [http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/ghost-mantis.html] exotic-pets.co.uk] It has an elongated head, a flattened, extended prothorax (together referred to as its "elaborate headdress and shoulder shields" by one enthusiast), [ [http://bugs.org/GalleryPages/leaf_mantis_back.shtml] 2006 Bugman Educational Entoprises] and leaf-like protrusions from its limbs. [ [http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/ghost-mantis.html] exotic-pets.co.uk] The mantis also has a forewing that looks like a desiccated leaf, [ [http://www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/mantid.html] pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk] and the "creases" in the wings are actually shadings of pigment. [ [http://bugs.org/GalleryPages/leaf_mantis_back.shtml] 2006 Bugman Educational Entoprises] As with most species of mantis, "P. paradoxa" is sexually dimorphic, with females being larger than males. Females have six or seven abdominal segments. Males are shorter, narrower, and have eight-segmented abdomens. [ [http://www.prayingmantid.co.uk/portfolio24332.html] PrayingMantid.co.uk] Males can also be distinguished from females due to their long antennae, almost transparent wings, and olive colour. [ [http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/ghost-mantis.html] exotic-pets.co.uk]

"P. paradoxa" oothecae can hatch out up to three dozen young. [ [http://www.usamantis.com/ghost_log2.html] USA Mantis] Nymphs of this species are dark colored and use ant mimicry as a defense. [ [http://mantodea.myspecies.info/sites/mantodea.myspecies.info/files/MSG%20NL%2023%20(February%202002).pdf] Mantis Study Group Newsletter] They can live up to two years. [ [http://www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/mantid.html] pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk]

Range

"P. paradoxa" has a wide range across the African continent and its islands and can be found in Angola, Cameroon, Cape Province, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Transvaal, Uganda and Zimbabwe. [ [http://www.phasmidsincyberspace.com/PhyllocraniaParadoxa.html] PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005 ] [ [http://www.bugoholic.se/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=30] Phyllocrania paradoxa(in Swedish] [ [http://www.ru.ac.za/academic/departments/zooento/Martin/hymenopodidae.html] The Hymenopodid Praying Mantises (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae) of South AfricaCompiled by Alfred P. Kaltenbach, "Naturhistorisches Museum" in Wien, Burgring 7, A-1014 Wien, Austria]

Cultivation

The Ghost Mantis is a popular pet among keepers and breeders of exotic insects. One insect hobbyist describes:

This is a long-lived mantis. They molt approximately every 3- 5 weeks until the 4th molt. After 4th molt, they eat infrequently and the last shed before adult hood can take 1- 2 month. Young should be sprayed 5-7 times a week, adults 3 times a week. Unlike most other mantis species, Ghost mantids can be kept in groups. They like to hang upside down, so try to provide a tall container....To the newly hatched larvae must be promptly offered Drosophila flies. [ [http://www.phasmidsincyberspace.com/PhyllocraniaParadoxa.html] PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005 ]

A breeder in the United Kingdom praises "P. paradoxa" saying:

Overall, the Ghost Mantis really does live up to its name. The eerie, ghost like figure, and the slow, creepy movements. Its unique look and colours are liked by all, and the contrast between its small size, and its ferocious nature. However, this is not a species for the beginner, and would require some experience with keeping mantids, before this one was introduced to the collection. [ [http://www.prayingmantid.co.uk/portfolio24332.html] PrayingMantid.co.uk]

A third enthusiast lauds "Incredible appearance, communal, and they don’t eat each other - what’s not to like about this species?" [ [http://www.mantisplace.com/mantiscare.html] MantisPlace.com]

ee also

*List of mantis genera and species
*Dead Leaf Mantis

Bibliography

*For a technical discussion of an aspect of this species' anatomy refer to [http://globiz.sachsen.de/snsd/publikationen/ArthropodSystematicsPhylogeny/EA_63_1-2/EntAbh63_1-2_Wieland51-76.pdf The cervical sclerites of Mantodea discussed in the context of dictyopteran phylogeny] by Frank Wieland, "Entomologische Abhandlungen" 63, "Museum für Tierkunde Dresden", 2006

External links

* [http://www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/images/entomology_images/Phyllocrania-paradoxa-on-Br.jpg/view] Bolton Museum and Archive Service
* [http://www.insectaculture.com/videos.htm] 2007 InsectaCulture Videos of "Phyllocrania paradoxa"

References