The Dead Leaf Mantid is a striking example of evolution's artistry. These delicate insects mimic in shape and form the dead leaves they are named for with an amazing precision.
Dead Leaf Mantids, when kept in captivity, are usually very docile and calm. They are usually hostile toward other mantids, so they should be kept individually. Most Dead Leaf Mantids, when feeling alarmed or threatened, will make this evident by rearing back on their hind legs with their forelegs in strike position. In the wild, Dead Leaf Mantids are mainly arboreal. They remain still, perfectly camouflaged among leaves, and simply grab their insect prey with their spiny forearms as it passes by. Dead Leaf Mantids must shed their skins as they grow. To do this, usually they hang upside down from a stick or twig!
Many female Dead Leaf Mantids can grow to about five and a half inches, although males are usually around three inches long. The thin legs of Dead Leaf Mantids resemble leaf stems or twigs. They have darkly colored undersides and the top of their body is molded into the shape of a crumpled dead leaf. This facade extends over the Dead Leaf Mantid's head, giving it a hooded appearance. The forearms are spiny to aid in hunting.
Dead Leaf Mantids are found in tropical regions of the world, especially in Asia. They inhabit various biomes from scrubland to humid forests. Because they are so beautiful, fairly long lived, and hardy, Dead Leaf Mantids can make great pets for beginning and expert insect fanciers alike.
Dead Leaf Mantids will usually thrive when kept in screen containers. If you must keep a Dead Leaf Mantid in an enclosed container, have a screen lid and try to find a container with screen "windows" or cut-outs in its sides. Dead Leaf Mantids usually eat twice a week on a wide variety of insects, from crickets to fruit flies to waxworms. They should be kept at a temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a nighttime drop to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity should be maintained by the presence of a shallow, pebble filled bowl of water in the enclosure, a peat moss substrate, and regular misting. It should remain between 75 and 80 percent. The peat substrate should be two to three inches thick. Potting soil covered in moss may be another good option. The enclosure should be vertically oriented and several branches, vines, or sticks should be available for your Dead Leaf Mantid to climb on, in addition to some sort of hiding area. Light should be from an indirect source. A perch located at a height of three times your Dead Leaf Mantid's length should be located in the enclosure for the mantid to hang from when it molts.
Dead Leaf Mantids can be sexed by counting the number of segments the thorax is divided into. While males will have eight segments, females have six. Usually, Dead Leaf Mantids are not difficult to breed. Because some mantids may be cannibalistic, it may not be a wise idea to leave the male and female together after fertilization has occurred. Some females may even eat males during copulation. After mating they will lay several hundred eggs at a time. These eggs are laid in a mass that hardens as it makes contact with air. Gravid Dead Leaf Mantids and newly hatched mantids should usually be fed more often than adults. The newly hatched nymphs can be raised together as long as they are well fed and they are all about the same size and age. There should be plenty of hiding places and molting areas available in their enclosures. Keep the nymphs moist by misting their cage. Otherwise they may have problems shedding.
