Ever wondered where people get the ideas for the monsters in sci-fi movies?
According to Warren Dick some of God’s amazing creatures are the biggest inspiration. One such creature is the ghost mantis.
The phyllocrania paradoxa, or ghost mantis, is also known as the dead leaf mantis and is very common throughout Africa. However, they are seldom seen due to their amazing camouflage.
They come in many different shades of brown, from greenish brown to dark brown and almost black. In fact they can even adjust their shade according to the plant that they are on.
They don’t grow very big, maximum is about six centimetres.
These little prey mantises tend to favour grasslands and open gardens where they will take up residence on a shrub, preferably a flowering one. There it sits unmoved, perfectly mimicking a dead leaf awaiting unsuspecting insects which it snaps up with its powerful forearms.
Their camouflage is so good that you don’t even know its there unless you have a good look at all the dead leaves on your plant.
If seen and or threatened these mantises simply fall to the ground just like a dead leaf, remaining motionless until the threat is gone.
Prey mantises are Dicks’ favorite group of insects, they come in many different shapes and sizes.
Contact Warren Dick to have some of your interesting spiders, snakes or other wildlife identified, call or WhatsApp him on 072-211-0353. Follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
