Vietnam Dead Leaf Mantis

A dead-leaf mantis from Vietnam, and one of the less commonly kept members of the genus — expect less information about it than about D. desiccata, and treat confident numbers from other sources with some suspicion. It is reported to be smaller than D. desiccata, but the figures in circulation disagree enough that no adult size is recorded here rather than publishing a guess. Care follows the rest of the genus. Keep warm — around 77-86°F, cooler at night, which lengthens adult life — and fairly humid at roughly 75%, with light daily misting. The broad shield behind the head makes a dry molt genuinely risky, so humidity matters more here than for most mantids, and it must be paired with real ventilation rather than a sealed damp box. Height is the thing that matters in an enclosure: at least three times body length tall so the mantis can hang clear of the floor to molt, with sturdy branches or mesh to grip. A patient ambush predator that prefers flying prey — flies are ideal, with crickets and small roaches accepted. Mantids drink from misted droplets rather than a dish. Housed individually: like the rest of the genus this species is not communal and will cannibalise. Harmless to humans; the raised-arm display is a bluff.