Ghost mantis

Meet the ghost mantis, which you can observe in the Tête-à-tête aera at the Insectarium.

This mantis, found in southern and eastern Africa, looks like a dead leaf. This highly effective camouflage allows it to be mistaken for plant debris, so unsuspecting prey approach without hesitation. To perfect the illusion, it can even hang upside down beneath branches.

Ghost mantises get their Latin name (Phyllocrania paradoxa) from the unusual, leaf-like shape of their head. In Latin, phyllo means “leaf” and crania means “head.” Their head is highly mobile, allowing them to scan their surroundings without moving the rest of their body—making them less likely to be detected by predators.