Size

Males: 2 – 2.5 inches / 6 - 7 cm

Females: 2 – 2.5 inches / 6 - 7 cm
 

Distribution 

Sub-Saharan Africa 
 

Difficulty

Rearing: Easy

Breeding: Intermediate
 

Humidity

50 – 70% 

 

Temperature 

75 – 85F / 25 - 30C
 

Total Lifespan - (From Hatchling through Adulthood)  

Males: 5 – 8 months 

Females: 9 – 16 months 
 

Color Variations

Black, Maroon, Brown, Straw, Orange, Green, with lighter color stripes in most color morphs

 

Introduction 

Phyllocrania (Latin for leaf-head) is one of the most iconic mantises in the hobby. They are easy to care for, have exquisite camouflage, and can be very calm. Additionally, P. paradoxa is more tolerant of others of its kind than most mantises and may be kept in colonies in larger spaces. 
 

Hailing from most places in Africa with moderate rainfall, this cryptic mantis species is almost impossible to find in the wild. Its tall, flat crest and raised, flattened leg and abdomen lobes mean it is easily lost in a tree or bush full of leaves. Its ability to hide so well has earned it the name “ghost mantis,” as if it were an unseen specter watching for prey.
It has a preference for flying prey, and will not stalk its prey actively unless very hungry. 

Males and females in this genus are very different as adults, with females being much more robust and heavy with solid-colored wings. Males have clear forewings with narrow chocolate stripes and dusky hindwings. Both sexes are very hardy and live much longer than other species their size, making them excellent pets. Females have been reported to live up to 2 years!  
 

Sexing

As with all mantises, males have 8 external sternites, and females have 6. In this species, males have thin scraggly crests, while females have wider smoother crests. Both sexes have 8 instars, though some rare individuals may molt to adult at instar 7. 

 

Keeping 

P. paradoxa can be kept communally with sufficient food until sub adult (instar 7), after which it is recommended to separate into same-sex communals. They become more territorial at this stage, so ample space should be provided, and smaller individuals are at greater risk of cannibalism. Offering multiple perches via sticks or plants is recommended for communal setups to help avoid conflict. 
 

Recommended minimum space is as follows:
 

Instar 1 – 3: 8 oz Deli Cup 

Instar 4 - Adult: 32 oz 1 liter Deli Cup 

Typically,  your mantis enclosure should be 3x the current  length of your mantis - unless otherwise specified. 
 

Feeding

Instar 1 – 3: Drosophila (fruit flies)

Instar 4 – Adult: Houseflies, Blue bottle flies, Moths, Small Crickets, Roaches

 

Breeding 

Standard mantis mating practices will suffice for this genus. Most individuals will be ready to mate once they have been adults for 3 to 4 weeks. Place the male in a spacious enclosure or on a branch and give him some time to calm down. Then place the female around 6 – 8 inches /15–17 cm in front facing him and prod her to move. Once the male sees the female, he will watch her carefully and attempt to get in a position to mount. Males in this species are skittish, so this process may take several hours. 

​

Once mating begins, the two usually stay connected for anywhere from 4 – 8 hours, after which the male dismounts and flies away on his own. Mated females may lay an ootheca around every 2 weeks, usually containing between 20 and 40 nymphs. After an incubation period of 4 – 6 weeks at 60 – 80% humidity, they will emerge at once (though in rare cases it may take a few days). First-instar nymphs are fairly active and vaguely resemble black ants. They begin to feed after 24 – 36 hours.