Ghost Praying Mantis
Ghost Praying Mantis
Name Dutch: Ghost Praying Mantis
Scientific name: Phyllocrania illudens ghost
Age: Several weeks to months
Height: On average 5 cm and no difference between men and women
Day temperature: Average 26 and between 20 and 30 degrees
Humidity: 60-90%
Activity: Day active
Legislation: None
Stay: Terrariums
Recommended Dimension: 20x20x30cm
Description
A Ghost Praying Mantis, also known as the Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa), is a special species of praying mantis with a striking appearance and interesting behavior. The name "Ghost" is due to its ability to camouflage itself perfectly between barren leaves in forest areas, making it virtually invisible to both prey and predators.
The Ghost Praying Mantis has a unique appearance with an alien-like head and a long, asymmetrical bulge on the head. This bulge serves to better resemble a dry leaf, allowing it to blend perfectly with the environment in which it occurs. The most common color in this species is dark brown, but sometimes a green variant can also be found. The color is influenced by the environment, with a more humid and greener environment more often yielding a green Ghost Praying Mantis.
The Ghost Praying Mantis is native to Madagascar and Africa. Its unique camouflage and behavior allow it to grab prey unexpectedly and keep itself safe from predators, such as insectivorous birds.
This unusual and intriguing praying mantis is loved by insect enthusiasts for its unique appearance and captivating behavior. Observing a Ghost Praying Mantis in action is a fascinating experience and makes it a much-loved addition to the world of exotic pets.
Feeding and Hunting
The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) hunts for prey using a lurking or sit-and-wait strategy, like other mantises. This hunting technique is also known as "ambush predation".
Here's how the Ghost Praying Mantis hunting process works:
- camouflage: The Praying Mantis has a unique and perfect camouflage that helps it to blend in with its surroundings. Its body color and shape closely resemble dry leaves, making it virtually invisible among the fallen leaves in forest areas where it occurs. This camouflage allows it to evade predators and remain undetected by its prey.
- Sit and wait: Once camouflaged, the Praying Mantis sits motionless among the leaves or on a branch, patiently waiting for unsuspecting prey to come within its reach. It uses its excellent eyesight to spy and identify prey.
- Attack: As soon as suitable prey is within reach, the Praying Mantis strikes at lightning speed. With its sharp grasping claws on the front legs, it grabs prey with precision and speed. Its long, asymmetrical bulge on the head serves as an additional aid to disguise itself as a dry leaf and approach prey without being noticed.
- Catch and feeding: After catching the prey, the Praying Mantis uses its sharp jaws to immobilize the prey. It then secretes digestive enzymes to digest the soft tissue of the prey. The liquid tissue is sucked up, allowing the Ghost Praying Mantis to feed.
Thanks to its excellent camouflage and lurking strategy, the Praying Mantis is a masterful hunter. It surprises its prey unexpectedly and can go unnoticed among the environment in which it finds itself. This makes it a fascinating and efficient predator in its natural habitat.
Feeding a Ghost Praying Mantis
As a purebred carnivore, it is important to feed this special mantis in captivity with an appropriate diet. This diet consists of several types of live insects, such as fruit flies, small crickets, and midges.
To ensure that your Ghost Praying Mantis gets all the nutrients it needs, it is recommended to feed them on average 3 times a week. However, it is very important to keep a feeding schedule to avoid overfeeding, as this can cause health problems that can be fatal.
After feeding, it is crucial to remove uneaten prey from the enclosure. This prevents disturbance during molting and ensures that the prey will not see your Ghost Praying Mantis as a potential snack.
Carefully and regularly feeding your Ghost Praying Mantis with the correct diet will contribute to its well-being and health as a pet. By observing its unique hunting behavior and admiring its perfect camouflage, you will surely enjoy the behavior of these captivating and mysterious insects.
Holding a Ghost Praying Mantis
A Ghost Praying Mantis is a fascinating alien-looking pet to keep. These unique and beautiful creatures bear a striking resemblance to dry leaves, making them intriguing to watch. This makes them masterful hunters who camouflage themselves perfectly between fallen leaves in forest areas.
To ensure a healthy living environment, it is crucial to meet their specific needs accurately, as Ghost Mantises are not an easy species to keep.
Setting up a suitable terrarium is essential to provide a comfortable living environment for your praying mantis. A special insect terrarium with dimensions of at least 10x10x15cm to a maximum of 20x20x30 cm is recommended.
Provide plenty of climbing opportunities, such as branches and fake plants, and special dry leaves on the bottom to make your Praying Mantis feel comfortable. These insects are experts at camouflage, and creating an environment that resembles their natural habitat will contribute to their well-being.
Maintaining the correct temperature is very important to the health of your Ghost Praying Mantis. The daytime temperature should be between 20 and 30 degrees with a perfect average of 25 degrees. In addition, it is essential to keep the humidity between 60% and 80%. Regular spraying of water will help maintain proper humidity levels and meet their moisture needs.
Care of your Ghost Praying Mantis
A good feeding schedule is essential for the Ghost Praying Mantis, so you can ensure that it receives all the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. In addition, you can ensure that he gets a varied diet and monitor that you do not overfeed.
The Praying Mantis stays hydrated by drinking drops of water from its habitat. That is why it is crucial to spray your terrarium regularly with a fine mist, so that small water droplets appear on the leaves and surfaces.
Keeping the terrarium clean is also important for your Praying Mantis. Remove feces and any food scraps from the terrarium to keep it clean. It is recommended to completely replace your terrarium's bedding every 6 to 8 weeks. Always do this carefully so as not to disturb your Praying Mantis too much. Regular maintenance ensures that your Ghost Praying Mantis lives in a healthy and hygienic environment.
