Dead Leaf Mantis molt (photos & video)

[Precarious]

Male Deroplatys truncata molts to L5. All footage shown at normal speed.



Soundtrack by Precarious

 

[gripen]

Stunning pictures! He looks a little older than L5. Those wingbuds are huge if he is only L5!

 

[frogparty]

beautiful! Im in desperate need of truncata males for my female, if yiu have extra

 

[Precarious]

Stunning pictures! He looks a little older than L5. Those wingbuds are huge if he is only L5!

I just got these in December at L1. Only have 3 so it's been easy to track their progress. L5 should be pre-sub so buds should be noticeable. I know the nymph looks big in the photos but they're still very small.

 

[brancsikia339]

Awesome mantis! I really need to get some of these!! Those pictures are incredible!

 

[sinensispsyched]

I just got these in December at L1. Only have 3 so it's been easy to track their progress. L5 should be pre-sub so buds should be noticeable. I know the nymph looks big in the photos but they're still very small.

Yes, but the buds themselves aren't usually that developed. I agree with Gripen, in that your truncata is L6, or sub.

 

[agent A]

He looks great!!!

 

[Precarious]

Yes, but the buds themselves aren't usually that developed. I agree with Gripen, in that your truncata is L6, or sub.

You may be right. I may have missed a molt or been misinformed on what instar I received. But they really are tiny yet. Just can't imagine the adults can be as small as subs this size suggests.

 

[SilentDeviL]

Great Video and Pic as always

 

[gripen]

They are a smaller species. In the UK I think I saw that females got up 6-8cm while males were considerably smaller. Of course this is just speculation so take it for all it is worth. If I had to guess I would say your male is pre sub.

 

[sally]

It is such an amazing process. Stunning video.

 

[Precarious]

It is such an amazing process. Stunning video.

I couldn't get over the subtle purple and oranges. They only last through the molt but even still they were breathtaking. Probably couldn't have seen them with the naked eye.

 

[frogparty]

My males that I received were MAYBE 5 or 6 cm as adults - all passed on before my female from the same ooth reached adult. The adult female I have is about the size of a large well fed female orchid.

 

[Precarious]

My males that I received were MAYBE 5 or 6 cm as adults - all passed on before my female from the same ooth reached adult. The adult female I have is about the size of a large well fed female orchid.

Really? They're that small? I just assumed they would be as big as D.lobata. Silly me...

 

[frogparty]

I thought the same thing as well. The males were 1.5 times the size of a male orchid at best

 

[frogparty]

Here is my lady, lookin for love

 

[Precarious]

Here is my lady, lookin for love

Cool, thanks. She's a cutie.

 

[ScienceGirl]

SO BEAUTIFUL!

 

[MantidBro]

You have a nice camera. A good artist's eye, too.

I need to be able to take close-up photos and videos as crisp and clear as this. What kind of camera do you have?

The video is incredible, especially with the editing, it's professional. Also, a beautiful mantid. I want to have a Deroplatys truncate some day, as well. I plan to own each species while my interest in this hobby lasts (I feel it will be lifelong, like a goal of mine to get as many different species as possible).