Phyllocrania paradoxa
Phyllocrania paradoxa | |
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Male ghost mantis in one of the older nymph stages, probably sub-adult | |
Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Phyllocrania Burmeister, 1838
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Species: | P. paradoxa
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Binomial name | |
Phyllocrania paradoxa (Burmeister, 1838)
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Phyllocrania paradoxa, common name ghost mantis, is a small species of mantis from Africa remarkable for its leaf-like body. It is one of the three species in the genus Phyllocrania. It is known for its distinct and exclusive camouflaged appearance of a dry weathered leaf.[1][2][3][4]
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Phyllocrania_paradoxa_Morphology.jpg/220px-Phyllocrania_paradoxa_Morphology.jpg)
Compared to many other praying mantises, the ghost mantis is a "miniature species"[3] growing to only about 45 to 50 millimetres (1.8 to 2.0 in) long.[2]
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.[2][3]
Phyllocrania paradoxa is camouflaged so as to appear as dead, dried-up leaf material.[5] It has an elongated head, a flattened, extended prothorax and leaf-like protrusions from its limbs.[5] The mantis also has a forewing that looks like a desiccated leaf,[1] and the "creases" in the wings are actually shadings of pigment.[4] In the wild, the ghost praying mantis effectively blends in against dead leaves. Predators such as birds tend to overlook insects that resemble their background, and by staying still the ghost praying mantis can go unnoticed.[6]
If threatened, big nymphs and adult females adopt thanatosis, i.e. they play dead, whereas adult males run or fly away.[7]
P. paradoxa oothecae can hatch out up to three dozen young.[8] 1st and 2nd instar nymphs of this species are dark colored and use ant mimicry as a defense.[9]
Sexual Dimorphism
As with most or all species of mantis, Phyllocrania paradoxa is sexually dimorphic, with females being larger than males. Females have six abdominal segments. Males are shorter, narrower, and have eight-segmented abdomens.[3] At the 5th instar and above males are thinner than females and have smaller appendages (lateral of the abdomen). At the 6th instar and above their crowns are different. When adult, males have longer and thicker antennae than females and transparent wings, which are longer than the abdomen. They are good flyers and are significantly thinner than the females. At the 5th instar and above females are more compact than males and have bigger appendages. At the 6th instar and above the crown of females are as wide as their head and more line and smoother than the male`s crown. When adult, females are significantly more compact than males, with shorter antennae and the wings that do not cover the abdomen.
Range
Phyllocrania paradoxa have a wide range across the African continent and its islands and can be found in Angola, Cameroon, Cape Province, Congo basin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Transvaal, Uganda and Zimbabwe.[2][10][11] It is also found in South Europe.
Habitat
Ghost Mantis inhabit dry areas, bushes, shrubbes, trees in the open.[12]
In captivity
The ghost mantis is one of the most popular species of mantis in the mantis hobby because it looks good, is very easy to keep and relatively long-lived. Also, it is not very aggressive toward each other, unlike many praying mantises, so older nymphs can be kept together without problem. However, they should be separated around pre-sub-adult. Female ghost mantises can live up to eight months as adults, while males live a much shorter life.
Gallery
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Ghost mantis ootheca
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Sub-adult female ghost mantis
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Sub-adult female ghost mantis
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Carapace of a sub-adult female ghost mantis
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Female ghost mantis, ocellus
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Sub-adult female ghost mantis
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Sub-adult male ghost mantis's wing-buds
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Sub-adult female ghost mantis's wing-buds
See also
Bibliography
- For a technical discussion of an aspect of this species' anatomy refer to The cervical sclerites of Mantodea discussed in the context of dictyopteran phylogeny by Frank Wieland, Entomologische Abhandlungen 63, Museum für Tierkunde Dresden, 2006
References
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk - ^ a b c d [1] Archived 2008-06-08 at the Wayback Machine PhasmidsinCyberspace.com 2005
- ^ a b c d [2] Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine PrayingMantid.co.uk
- ^ a b [3] 2006 Bugman Educational Entoprises
- ^ a b [4] exotic-pets.co.uk
- ^ "Praying mantis good for the garden". The Mercury News. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- ^ [5] Mantis Study Group Newsletter
- ^ [6] USA Mantis
- ^ [7] Mantis Study Group Newsletter
- ^ [8] Phyllocrania paradoxa(in Swedish
- ^ [9] The Hymenopodid Praying Mantises (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae) of South Africa Compiled by Alfred P. Kaltenbach, Naturhistorisches Museum in Wien, Burgring 7, A-1014 Wien, Austria
- ^ http://www.mantisonline.de/index.php?lan=en&show=species_mantids_view&content=a:5:{s:7:%22subshow%22;s:15:%22species_mantids%22;s:10:%22level_left%22;s:3:%22pqr%22;s:5:%22genus%22;s:12:%22phyllocrania%22;s:18:%22level_left_species%22;s:5:%22index%22;s:7:%22species%22;s:8:%22paradoxa%22;}
External links
- [10] Bolton Museum and Archive Service
- [11] 2007 InsectaCulture Videos of Phyllocrania paradoxa
- Ghost mantis care sheet
- Deadlymantis.com This site have some amazing pictures of praying mantis and information on multiple species. Also, there are links to supplies for rearing and exotic live specimens.
External links
Media related to Phyllocrania paradoxa at Wikimedia Commons
- Hymenopodidae
- Mantodea of Africa
- Mantodea of Europe
- Insects of Angola
- Insects of West Africa
- Insects of Cameroon
- Insects of the Central African Republic
- Insects of the Comoros
- Insects of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Insects of Ethiopia
- Insects of Gabon
- Insects of Kenya
- Insects of Madagascar
- Insects of Malawi
- Insects of Mozambique
- Insects of Namibia
- Insects of the Republic of the Congo
- Insects of Somalia
- Insects of South Africa
- Insects of Sudan
- Insects of Tanzania
- Insects of Uganda
- Insects of Zimbabwe
- Insect rearing
- Insects described in 1838