Phyllocrania paradoxa
Ghost Mantis
Ghost mantises are captivating, leaf-like ambush predators that make an inexpensive, low-space observation pet, though their short lifespan and total intolerance of company mean they are a display animal rather than an interactive one.
HymenopodidaeLifespan 6–12 months as an adultCare complexity 2/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Phyllocrania paradoxa
- Family
- Hymenopodidae
- Origin
- Savannah scrub and dry woodland of sub-Saharan Africa
- Lifespan
- 6–12 months as an adult
- Adult size
- 5–7 cm
- Weight
- Not typically measured
- Temperament
- Solitary and purely observational; not a handling pet
- Activity level
- Low; spends long periods motionless in ambush posture
- Social needs
- None toward humans; must be housed alone as mantids are cannibalistic
- Intelligence
- Sophisticated ambush-predator vision and strike timing for an invertebrate
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Tall, well-ventilated mesh or glass enclosure at least three times the mantis's body length in height
- Space requirement
- Vertical space with twigs and leaf-litter décor for camouflage and moulting anchor points
- Temperature
- 22–27°C
- Humidity
- 50–70%, with a daily light misting
- Exercise
- Provided by vertical enclosure space for climbing
- Grooming
- Not applicable
Diet and feeding
Live fruit flies for nymphs, moving up to houseflies, small crickets or moths as an adult
Behaviour and compatibility
Ambush stillness, swaying camouflage movement, rapid predatory strikes, cannibalism if housed together
- With children
- Look-only pet; fascinating for supervised observation but too delicate and quick to bite defensively for handling
- With other animals
- Strictly solitary housing, away from any predatory pets
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Failed or stuck moults, often fatal
- Dehydration in low humidity
- Parasitic mite infestation
No veterinary services exist for this species; humidity and moulting space are the main preventive factors
Special care requirements
Provide ample vertical space and secure twig anchors, since a failed hanging moult is the most common cause of death