
Feeding: This species has no specific needs, but can be picky, so a varied diet is best. Start out with fruit flies for nymphs and move to pinhead crickets for larger nymphs and crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and other larger insects for sub-adult and adults…although adults can be a bit more picky than nymphs.
What is the best container for Deroplatys lobata?
A good sized container for Deroplatys lobata in width and height is usually 3x the length of the mantis, but for young nymphs (1st to 2nd instar nymphs) a 16oz container is good. During molting, it is vital that you do not disturb them.
What is the common name of Deroplatys lobata?
Deroplatys lobata. Deroplatys lobata, common name Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis or dead leaf mantis, is a species of praying mantis that inhabits Thailand, Java, Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
How do you molt Deroplatys lobata?
To molt Deroplatys lobata need a rough superior support, like a piece of rough bark or a rough stick (not a slippery stick because the nymph cannot get a good grip and will fall while molting) at a diagonal angle or attached to the top of the container so that the nymph will hang upside down which is needed to molt.

What does dead leaf mantis eat?
Babies eat flightless fruit flies both sizes. As they reach L3 stage they can take pinhead crickets, cockroaches and house flies.
How long does a dead leaf mantis live?
The Giant Dead leafs are a must-have for everyones' collection. They are relatively long lived, it is not uncommon for females to live up to 18 months. Both sexes are impressively sized but males especially can be skittish.
Can dead leaf mantis live together?
If ample food and space is provided then they live very happily together. Even when they do become hungry they would prefer to hunt for live foods on the ground instead of attaching each other. The Adults (both sexes) can live together too.
How often does a dead leaf mantis Moult?
Mantids molt every 2 weeks as nymphs and the time in between each molt increases as they get older so their last molt into adulthood can sometimes take as long as 3-4 weeks. It takes about 8 molts for females and about 7 for males.
How long do mantis live in captivity?
The praying mantis is an insect that can be found all over the world. The lifespan of a praying mantis is up to two years while in captivity. In the wild, smaller species may only live for a month while larger species live about 6 months.
Can praying mantis live in captivity?
Mantids should be housed individually; each praying mantis needs only a small tank. Generally, a tank should be at least twice as wide and three times as tall as the mantid, but not much larger than that. If the tank is too large, the mantid will have a hard time finding its prey.
What do praying mantis eat?
InsectsBeetlesLepidopteraBlattodeaCricketMantis/EatsMany gardeners and farmers welcome mantids, because the insects they eat are often pests that hurt crops. In addition to insects such as crickets and grasshoppers, mantids eat spiders, frogs, lizards, and even small birds. Check out where praying mantises live.
Are dead leaf mantis poisonous?
Praying mantises are nonvenomous, which means their bite is not poisonous. If you do get bitten, all you have to do is wash your hands well.
What does a dead leaf mantis look like?
0:402:31Creature Feature: Dead Leaf Mantis - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's called a dead leaf mantis. Well that makes sense its body shape helps it to blend under leafMoreIt's called a dead leaf mantis. Well that makes sense its body shape helps it to blend under leaf litter. I bet that helps it to hide from predators and prey.
How long can a praying mantis live without food?
When a praying mantis will not eat even though it does not need to molt, it can help to offer it a different prey species. Do not worry too much, a mantis can live for 2 weeks without any food.
When can I feed my mantis after molting?
After the mantis has completed its 5th molt, supply cricket nymphs as a food source. Wait until after the 7th molt to provide adult crickets as food because a strong cricket can easily attack and kill a mantis. The mantis life span can be a few days to 6 months, as the mantis requires 7 to 9 molts to reach adult size.
How do I know if my mantis is going to molt?
You can tell when a praying mantis is about to molt because she'll lose her appetite and hang motionless upside down in her cage. Just before molting, a juvenile mantis also gets swollen wing buds where her wings will eventually grow.
How do you take care of a dead leaf mantis?
Dead Leaf Mantis care sheetHousing: a glass terrarium of at least 200x200x300mm.Heating: ambient air temperature of 70-75oF.Diet: carnivorous diet of insects.Decoration: damp substrate to raise humidity levels.
Where does the dead leaf mantis live?
Deroplatys lobata, common name Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis or dead leaf mantis, is a species of praying mantis that inhabits Thailand, Java, Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
How big do dead leaf mantis get?
7-9cmGiant Dead Leaf Mantis can grow to an impressive size, 7-9cm! They need to be kept very hot and dry. Our animals are only available for collection in store.
Are dead leaf mantis poisonous?
Praying mantises are nonvenomous, which means their bite is not poisonous. If you do get bitten, all you have to do is wash your hands well.
Keeping
Two ventilation areas (gaze at top + front) adviced to prevent waterglogging.
Gender Determination
In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea ).
Biology
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
With a little luck you can experience their impressive threat behavior. At rest, however, they are well camouflaged between dry branches and leaves.
How to molt Deroplatys lobata?
To molt Deroplatys lobata need a rough superior support, like a piece of rough bark or a rough stick at a diagonal angle or attached to the top of the container so that the nymph will hang upside down which is needed to molt. Their cage should be well ventilated with twigs for the mantis to perch on.
What temperature does Deroplatys lobata grow?
Deroplatys lobata do well when the temperature is not below 75 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Sudden changes in temperature may kill the mantis. If kept warmer praying mantises will grow faster and live a shorter life but if kept cooler then they grow slower and live a longer life.
What is the name of the nymph that is scared so he is flattened out with his front
Deroplatys lobata 2nd instar nymph (A little scared so he is flattened out with his front legs stretched out forward.) Deroplatys lobata 2nd instar nymph (He is scared so he is flattened out quite a bit but strangely his front legs are in their normal position.)
What species of deroplatys are kept in captivity?
In Captivity. Deroplatys lobata are commonly kept in captivity. Three other species in the genus Deroplatys are kept in captivity, Deroplatys desiccata, Deroplatys truncata and Deroplatys trigonodera .
How do nymphs play?
After the 2nd instar they start to get skittish. Nymphs are known to play dead. If startled sometimes nymphs will jump up into the air and fall face up or down to the ground with their legs pulled in. Adults and nymphs are known to do a threat pose when startled. Deroplatys lobata are aggressive toward each other and they will sometimes eat each other so they should not be kept together in captivity. Younger nymphs are not very aggressive toward each other so can be kept together and there will rarely be any cannibalism if they are fed enough. From the 1st instar to adult they often threaten each other by doing a threat pose and striking to scare off the other mantis. After laying the ootheca the female sits on her ootheca to defend it.
How many times do ootheca molt?
Females molt 8 times and males molt 6 times to become adult. About 3–4 weeks after mating, the female will make her first ootheca. This species can lay around 4–6 oothecae with a period of 4–6 weeks in between each ootheca. After 6 weeks of incubation at 30 C (86 F) and 70–80% humidity.
Where do dead leaf mantis live?
Deroplatys lobata, common name Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis or dead leaf mantis, is a species of praying mantis that inhabits Thailand, Java, Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
Overview
In Captivity
Deroplatys lobata are commonly kept in captivity. Three other species in the genus Deroplatys are kept in captivity, Deroplatys desiccata, Deroplatys truncata and Deroplatys trigonodera.
Nymphs are skittish but at the 1st instar they are calm and are not able to move quickly like most praying mantises. After the 2nd instar they start to get skittish.
Habitat
Deroplatys lobata live on the ground around dead leaves and bushes in damp areas, tropical forests.
Description
This mantis mimics dead leaves. Females are about 65 to 70mm in length and males are about 45mm in length. 1st instar nymphs are up to 15mm in length and 2nd instar nymphs are about 21mm in length when their abdomens are expanded. Their coloring ranges from dark gray to light mottled gray. They also possess a broad prothorax that looks ripped and crumpled like a leaf. Female…
Additional Images
• Deroplatys lobata, 1st instar nymph on a hand
• Deroplatys lobata 1st instar nymph on a hand
• Two 1st instar Deroplatys lobata nymphs (The one on the right is scared and is trying to look something like leaf.)
See also
• Dead leaf mantis
• List of mantis genera and species