Orchid Mantis
vs Dead Leaf Mantis
Both species are rated intermediate-level. Your choice comes down to what you want from the animal — appearance, size, lifespan, and personality differ significantly.
| Orchid Mantis | Dead Leaf Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hymenopus coronatus | Deroplatys gorochovi |
| Care level | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Adult size (female) | 6.5 cm | 9.5 cm |
| Adult size (male) | 2.5 cm | 8 cm |
| Lifespan | 5–9 months | 8–13 months |
| Temperature | 75–85°F | 75–85°F |
| Humidity | 60–80% | 60–80% |
| Instars (female) | 8 | 8 |
| Instars (male) | 6 | 7 |
| Diet | Flying insects — fruit flies → houseflies → bottle flies and moths | Flying insects — fruit flies → houseflies → bottle flies → moths |
| Communal? | No | No |
| Origin | Southeast Asia — Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia | Southern Vietnam (similar care to D. desiccata) |
Care Difficulty
Both species are rated Intermediate. Orchid Mantis needs 60–80% humidity while Dead Leaf Mantis needs 60–80%. Temperature ranges overlap but check each species' care guide for specifics.
Size & Lifespan
Dead Leaf Mantis is the larger species. Dead Leaf Mantis lives longer on average. Females of both species live longer than males — this is universal across mantis species.
Appearance
Orchid Mantis: The world's most photogenic mantis. Pink-and-white petal-mimicking limbs, native to Southeast Asian rainforests. Sought after globally for stunning visual displays. Dead Leaf Mantis: A walking torn leaf. Wide shield-shaped pronotum, deimatic death-feign defense, and stunning patterning. The species that proves nature is the best costume designer. Both are visually striking in completely different ways — check the photos above and the product pages for gallery images.
Best For
Both species are rated intermediate-level. Your choice comes down to what you want from the animal — appearance, size, lifespan, and personality differ significantly. Both species are captive-bred at our facility in Las Vegas and ship with a live arrival guarantee.
Orchid Mantis
The world's most photogenic mantis. Pink-and-white petal-mimicking limbs, native to Southeast Asian rainforests. Sought after globally for stunning visual displays.
Dead Leaf Mantis
A walking torn leaf. Wide shield-shaped pronotum, deimatic death-feign defense, and stunning patterning. The species that proves nature is the best costume designer.