Green Ghost

[papilio_]

Many thanks to OctoberRainne for this beauty!

Phyllocrania paradoxa, Ghost Mantis, green color form L5

 

[Crazy4mantis]

nice pics and nice mantis

 

[papilio_]

nice pics and nice mantis

Thank you Crazy4Mantis!

 

[TheBeesKnees]

Gorgeous lighting!!
I want a ghostie so bad, but I worry about shipping to thailand ; A;
Living vicariously through photos like these are a nice alternative, though. What a lovely mantis <3!! Beautiful shots!!

 

[papilio_]

Thanks a lot TheBeesKnees, I appreciate it!

I hope you manage to find Ghosts someplace, fantastic mantids!!

 

[SillyMantis]

So abstract, brilliantly displayed buddy. Nice!

 

[papilio_]

Thanks very much SillyMantis!

 

[dmina]

Wow.. Beautiful...

Question: are they born green or do they molt to green?

 

[soundspawn]

They're born black and fairly bland. Remind me of ants at their first instar

 

[papilio_]

Wow.. Beautiful...

Question: are they born green or do they molt to green?

As soundspawn explained, they are just little black ants when born, indistinguishable from 'normal' ghosts. I received this Green at the instar previous to the most recent photos so don't have personal experience with the entire life-cycle yet. If I understand correctly (and I could very well be wrong here), only females get green, the color growing more vivid with age and tends to reach its best color when the mantis is raised in relatively high humidity.

 

[dmina]

Yeah.. Still learning myself... But you have some beautiful pictures there..

So are these full grown? Do you have picture updates?

 

[papilio_]

Yeah.. Still learning myself... But you have some beautiful pictures there..

So are these full grown? Do you have picture updates?

Thanks!

Nope, this was only around L6. I'm sad to report that it died in a bad molt, but I have another on the way.

I saw an adult Green Ghost at the Minnesota Zoo Insect Exhibit a few months ago, it was huge and just as green as could be.

They also had huge animated insect models along the trail ... check out this 15-foot adult male Idolo!!