Common hobby species: Deroplatys lobata, D. desiccata, D. truncata, D. trigonodera
Common names: Dead Leaf Mantis, Giant Dead Leaf Mantis, Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis, Asian Dead Leaf Mantis
Difficulty: Intermediate
Size: males up to 1.75” (4.5cm)[D. desiccata – up to 2.75” (7cm)]; females up to 2.75” (7cm)[D. desiccata – up to 3” (8cm)]
Lifespan: males up to 1 year [D. desiccata up to 1.5 years]; females up to 2 years
Recommended enclosure size by instar:
– 1i-3i: 5.5 deli cup (3×3″/8×8cm)
– 4i-6i: 16oz deli cup (4×4″/10×10cm)
– 7i-adult: Depending on species, either 8×8×12″ (20×20×20cm) or 12×12×12″ (30×30×30cm) minimum
Humidity: 60-80%, misting every other day or so for hydration
Temperature: 75-85°F (24-29.5°C)
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: D. hydei fruit flies
– 3i-5i: house flies, blue bottle flies, small/medium cockroaches, small/medium crickets
– 6i-adult: blue bottle flies, medium/large cockroaches, medium/large crickets, wax worm/moths, mealworms (as treats)
Breeding:
Breeding can be attempted when males have been mature for 3 weeks and females have been mature for 4+ weeks.
Females lay up to 8 ooths, generally on thick branches or the underside of leaves, which hatch in 6-7 weeks when kept at the same parameters as the mantises. Each ooth hatches on average 40 nymphs, but up to 100 nymphs.
Other notes: They can be finicky eaters, but many will prefer larger and/or flying prey (especially D. dessicata).
They tend to prefer hanging out on the ground and on sticks near the ground. Be careful to ensure there is not a spot for them to molt too close to the ground and mismolt.
Other Resources:
Mantids & More – Lexicon – Deroplatys desiccata
Mantids & More – Lexicon – Deroplatys lobata
Mantids & More – Lexicon – Deroplatys truncata
Jax Mantis – Deroplatys desiccata