Deroplatys truncata
Dead leaf mantis
General Information
| Scientific name: | Deroplatys truncata |
| Common name: | Dead leaf mantis |
| Distribution: | Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, New Guinea |
| Habitat: | Trunks, close to the ground in tropical rainforests |
| Size: | Female up to 7 cm Male ~ 4,5 cm |
| Livespan: | Female up to 2 years Male ~ 1 year |
| Colour variations: | Light brown, dark brown, almost black |
| Aggressivity: | Middle* |
| Difficulty: | Middle |
*up to L3/L4 group-housing possible (males in adult stages also in groups)
Systematics
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Subfamily: | Deroplatyinae |
| Tribe: | Deroplatyini |
| Genus: | Deroplatys |
First description (year): GUÉRIN-MÉNEVILLE (1843)
More species of this genus (similar keeping and appearance):
- Deroplatys angustata WESTWOOD (1841)
- Deroplatys dessicata WESTWOOD (1839)
- Deroplatys lobata GUÉRIN-MÉNEVILLE (1838)
Keeping
Enclosure (LxWxH):
- Single-housing: from 20 x 20 x 30 cm
- Group-housing: from 30 x 30 x 30 cm for 3 adult males
- Small nymphs can be reared in smaller enclosures (for moulting they need twice their body length free space downwards)
Two ventilation areas (gaze at top + front) adviced to prevent waterglogging.
Temperature:
Days 25 – 30 °C, nights room temperature (below 18°C no problem)
Relative humidity:
Days ~ 60 – 80 %, nights a little higher
Set-up:
- Substrate: Soil, moss and dry leaves (animals often stay on the ground)
- Branches (also horizontal/bent) and bark pieces
- Living or artificial plants (Beware of pesticides!)
- Clean with vinegar or biodegradable glass cleaner (afterwards rinse with clear water)
Feeding Recommendation
| L1/L2 | Big fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) or firebrats |
| L3/L4 | Greenbottle flies or small crickets/roaches/firebrats etc. |
| L5 – to adult | Bluebottle flies and crawling insects |
This species preferrably feeds on crawling insects like crickets/roaches etc.
Gender Determination
In general: 8 visible sternites (ventral segments) at males, 6 at females (compare with Hierodula membranacea).
Additionally:
- Adult females: very big pronotum (like a “Delta”)
Biology
Adult stage (= full-grown + winged):
Females in L9, males in L7
Amount of moults variates (especially under abnormal temperatures or injuries)
Sexually mature after adult moult:
Males ~ 3 weeks
Females ~ 4 weeks
Copulation duration:
~ 10 – 20 hours
Details about hatching rates and incubation duration not yet secure. Probably similar to D. lobata.
All given information only for orientation. Actual facts always depend on temperature and food availibility etc.!
More
With a little luck you can experience the impressive threat behavior of Deroplatys truncata. At rest, however, they are well camouflaged between dry branches and leaves.
They also like lurking near the ground.
Sources
- www.mantisonline.de (July 2017)
Pictures
