Deroplatys desiccata
Encyclopedia
Deroplatys desiccata, known by the common names Giant Dead Leaf Mantis and (less-frequently) Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis, is a species
of praying mantis from Southeast Asia
.
from its resemblance to dead, leaf
y vegetation
including having a flattened, greatly extended thorax
and "intricate leaf patterns" on its wings. This insect varies in color from mottled brown through "pale orangey brown" to a very dark brown that is almost black.
This creature's camouflage
is aided by its movements as well as its appearance. When disturbed, it rocks gently as if caught in the breeze. When threatened, it typically falls to the ground and lies motionless. It can also react with a threatening display consisting of "black underwings splayed out, with large eyespot
s, frightening away unsuspecting predators."
As its common name indicates, D. desiccata is larger than other species of Dead Leaf Mantis
. Females grow to 15 cm long. Displaying the sexual dimorphism
typical of mantises, males grow only 6 cm long and are substantially smaller and lighter than females. Females’ prothorax
shields end in a sharp pointed curve on each side while the males have a rounder shape. According to one source, males tend to be more "yellowish" than the darker females.
s."
, Indonesia
, Malaysia, and Sumatra
.
One insect
hobby
ist and breeder calls this species:
A second breeder of insects recommends as a diet that:
The same source says they "should be kept at 75° - 80°F, and 75% damp
" and that "They are docile and calm."
While a third breeder assures potential owners that breeding this exotic species "is generally simple" and says "All in all, I would recommend this species to anyone" another cautions that this species requires a little more heat than many other mantises kept as pet
s and that it is best to keep their enclosure at a temperature of around 30 C (86 F) through the use of a heat mat or heat lamp if needed. The same breeder recommends keeping D. desiccatas cage at a cooler temperature at night to lengthen their life expectancy
. A constant 70–80% humidity
is also recommended.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of praying mantis from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Description
D. desiccata takes its common nameCommon name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
from its resemblance to dead, leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
y vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
including having a flattened, greatly extended thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
and "intricate leaf patterns" on its wings. This insect varies in color from mottled brown through "pale orangey brown" to a very dark brown that is almost black.
This creature's camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
is aided by its movements as well as its appearance. When disturbed, it rocks gently as if caught in the breeze. When threatened, it typically falls to the ground and lies motionless. It can also react with a threatening display consisting of "black underwings splayed out, with large eyespot
Eyespot (mimicry)
An eyespot is an eye-like marking. They are found on butterflies, reptiles, birds and fish. In members of the Felidae family , the white circular markings on the backs of the ears are termed ocelli, and they are functionally similar to eyespots in other animals.Eyespots may be a form of...
s, frightening away unsuspecting predators."
As its common name indicates, D. desiccata is larger than other species of Dead Leaf Mantis
Dead Leaf Mantis
Dead leaf mantis is a common name given to various species of praying mantis that mimic dead leaves. It is most often used in reference to species within genus Deroplatys because of their popularity as exotic pets. Examples include D. desiccata , D. lobata , and D. philippinica...
. Females grow to 15 cm long. Displaying the sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
typical of mantises, males grow only 6 cm long and are substantially smaller and lighter than females. Females’ prothorax
Prothorax
The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites are the pronotum , the prosternum , and the propleuron on each side. The prothorax never bears wings in extant insects, though some fossil groups possessed...
shields end in a sharp pointed curve on each side while the males have a rounder shape. According to one source, males tend to be more "yellowish" than the darker females.
Diet
Like most mantises, this species has little or no food preferences as long as the prey is the right size, but one source does observe that they "especially love flying insects like mothMoth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s."
Range
D. desiccata inhabits scrubland and forests in BorneoBorneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, and Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
.
Cultivation
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
ist and breeder calls this species:
The undisputed king of the Dead-leaf Mantids! D. desiccata is the largest Dead-leaf Mantid- a group of mantids whose coloration and wing patterns closely mimic (what else?) dead leaves...If size and power is what makes for your perfect mantid, this is definitely one species to consider. It's also one of the easier species of mantids to raise in captivity.
A second breeder of insects recommends as a diet that:
BabiesNymph (biology)In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
eat flightless fruit fliesDrosophila melanogasterDrosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
, pinheadNymph (biology)In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
cricketCricket (insect)Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s, and other small insects. Adults eat crickets, moths, fliesFließFließ is a municipality in the Landeck district and is located5 km south of Landeck on the upper course of the Inn River. It has 9 hamlets and was already populated at the roman age; the village itself was founded around the 6th century. After a conflagration in 1933 Fließ was restored more...
, flour wormsMealwormMealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult...
, and other large insects.
The same source says they "should be kept at 75° - 80°F, and 75% damp
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
" and that "They are docile and calm."
While a third breeder assures potential owners that breeding this exotic species "is generally simple" and says "All in all, I would recommend this species to anyone" another cautions that this species requires a little more heat than many other mantises kept as pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
s and that it is best to keep their enclosure at a temperature of around 30 C (86 F) through the use of a heat mat or heat lamp if needed. The same breeder recommends keeping D. desiccatas cage at a cooler temperature at night to lengthen their life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
. A constant 70–80% humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
is also recommended.