Phyllocrania
paradoxa
general
keeping
breeding
pictures
Name latin Phyllocrania paradoxa
english Ghost Mantis
IGM-Number 10
Systematics Super-Order Dictyoptera
Order Mantodea
Family Hymenopodidae
Subfamily Epaphroditinae
Tribe Phyllocranini
First Description Author BURMEISTER
Year 1838
Size

Quotation of Size

The given size is measured from the head to the end of the abdomen, without the wings.

Male ca. 5cm
Female ca. 5cm
Lifespan

Quotation of the Lifespan

The lifespan is given in month and has the following definition:

overall-age ("time between hatching and imago" + "lifespan after the last molting")

Example: 9 (2 + 7) month lifespan
overall-age = 9 month
time between hatching and imago = 2 month
lifespan after the last molting = 7 month

Male 7,5 (5,5 + 2) months / ~ 6 moltings
Female 12 (6+ 6) months / ~ 7 moltings
Sexing

Sexing

Morphologically differences between male and female.

Male L5 and above: thinner than females, smaller appendages (lateral of the abdomen)
L6 and above: crown esentually smaller and more curved than the female`s crown
adult: long antennas, transparent wings, which are longer than the abdomen, good flyers, significant thinner than the female
Female L5 and above: more compact than the male, bigger appendages
L6 and above: the crown is as wide as the female`s head and more line than the male`s crown
adult: significant more compact than the male, short antennas, wings cover the abdomen
Spreading whole africa sub-Saharan, Madagascar
Africa
Africa
Habitat bushes, shrubbes, trees in open, dry terrains
inhabits dry areas
Aggressiveness low
Colorvariants green, lightbrown/ yellowish- darkbrown/ black
males are adult always lightbrown
Hint Males are very afflicted by stress. In case of danger, both sexes dump down and remain in akinese (legs tightened and motionless).

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