TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Subfamily: Deroplatyinae

Genus/species: Deroplats desiccata

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: D. desiccata is brown in color with “leaf patterns” on its wings and has a broad prothorax that looks ripped and crumpled like a dead leaf. When threatened it drops to the ground with all legs folded resembling a dead leaf.
It can also react with a threatening display consisting of “black underwings” splayed out, with large eyespots, frightening away unsuspecting predators

Length females up to 80 mm
Length males up to 70 mm

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indonesia and Malaysia in trees among leaves.

DIET IN THE WILD: Prefers flying insects like moths.

References

California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017

Ron’s flickr   https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/35513498372/in/dateposted-public/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1QM

Animal Diversity Web   animaldiversity.org/accounts/Deroplatys_desiccata/classif…