Phyllocrania paradoxa
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Phyllocrania paradoxa, common name ghost mantis, is a small species of mantis from Africa remarkable for its leaf-like body. It is one of the three species in the genus Phyllocrania, known for its distinct and exclusive camouflaged appearance of a dry, weathered leaf.
Compared to many other praying mantises, the ghost mantis is a "miniature species", growing to only about 45 to 50 mm (1.8 to 2.0 in) long. It occurs in various brownish shades from very dark brown (almost black) to greenish gray. An individual's colors change between molts and are also dependent on light and humidity levels.
Phyllocrania paradoxa is camouflaged so as to appear as dead, dried-up leaf material. It has an elongated head, a flattened, extended prothorax, and leaf-like protrusions from its limbs. This mantis also has a forewing that looks like a desiccated leaf, and the "creases" in the wings are actually shadings of pigment. In the wild, the ghost praying mantis effectively blends in against dead leaves. Predators such as birds tend to overlook insects that resemble their background, and by staying still, the ghost praying mantis can go unnoticed.
If threatened, big nymphs and adult females... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harare | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | Pretoria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Johannesburg | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Durban | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ghost Mantis sighting in Pretoria on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 62nd most-seen of the 274 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October and November
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ghost Mantis in Pretoria on a given day, against under 5% in January–February, June–July and September, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Ghost Mantis sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Common Ghost Mantis sightings, Pretoria ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Harare (Zimbabwe, about 10%).
Same order: Mantodea
The closest relatives of the Common Ghost Mantis that you can see in Pretoria (order Mantodea, Mantises) are South African Mantis (about 10%), African Twig Mantis (about 10%) and Wide-Armed Mantis (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Ghost Mantis is recorded against all the insects logged in Pretoria (21 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
