Phyllocrania paradoxa

About Phyllocrania paradoxa

Phyllocrania paradoxa, the ghost mantis, is a small species from Africa and Madagascar with remarkable leaf-like camouflage. The head bears a tall, leaf-shaped crest, and the body and limbs have flattened lobes that break up its outline. Colouration ranges from pale green to dark brown, often matching the conditions the nymph was raised in.

Ghost mantids undergo incomplete metamorphosis — nymphs hatch from an ootheca and moult through successive instars to adulthood with no pupal stage. They are small, reaching just 4–5 cm as adults, and have a calm, sedentary temperament.

This species is notable for having a lower tendency toward cannibalism than most mantids. It is one of the few species where communal keeping is sometimes successful — though losses can still occur, especially if individuals are different sizes or food is scarce.

Enclosure

Height matters most. Like all mantids, P. paradoxa hangs upside-down to moult. The enclosure must be at least three times the body length in height — a minimum of 15 cm for adults — with a mesh or textured ceiling. A smooth ceiling will cause fatal moult failures.

• Net cages or tall containers with mesh lids work well
• Add plenty of twigs, fake leaves, and branches — ghost mantids are ambush predators that rely on camouflage
• If keeping communally, provide ample space and visual barriers to reduce encounters
• Communal groups must be the same age and size, and well-fed — even so, expect some losses

Temperature & humidity

Ghost mantids prefer moderate warmth: 22–26°C during the day. Room temperature in most homes is usually adequate. Avoid temperatures above 28°C.

Mist lightly every 1–2 days to maintain 60–80% humidity and provide drinking water. Allow some drying between mistings. Good ventilation is important — stagnant, overly wet conditions encourage mould and bacterial growth.

Feeding

Ghost mantids are relatively sedate feeders compared to larger species. They prefer to wait for prey to wander close rather than actively pursuing it. Offer appropriately sized live prey — roughly the length of the raptorial forelegs or smaller.

• Nymphs: fruit flies (D. melanogaster, then D. hydei as they grow)
• Sub-adults and adults: houseflies, small crickets, bluebottle flies

Feed every 2–3 days. Avoid overfeeding — a distended abdomen increases the risk of moult failure. In communal setups, scatter prey widely so all individuals have access.

Notes on communal keeping

P. paradoxa has a lower cannibalism rate than most mantids, but it is not zero. Communal keeping works best when all individuals are the same instar, well-fed, and have plenty of space and visual cover. If one individual is noticeably larger than the others, remove it. Cannibalism in mantids is predatory behaviour — it is not triggered by hunger, though hunger increases its frequency.