Deroplatys gorochovi, commonly known as the Vietnamese Dead Leaf Mantis, is a remarkable species of mantis known for its dead-leaf mimicry, which provides excellent camouflage in its forest habitat.
🪵 Common Name:
Vietnamese Dead Leaf Mantis
🔬 Scientific Name:
Deroplatys gorochovi
🌍 Native Range:
Tropical forests of Vietnam and surrounding Southeast Asian regions
🍂 Appearance:
Body Shape: Flattened, leaf-like body with pronounced leaf-vein patterns on its wings and a broad, shield-like pronotum (neck plate).
Color: Various shades of brown and tan, often with mottled markings mimicking dried leaves.
Sexual Dimorphism: Females are larger and more robust; males are slimmer and more agile.
🧠 Behavior and Traits:
Leaf mimicry: Lies motionless among leaf litter, blending in to ambush prey and avoid predators.
Deimatic display: Will raise its forelegs and spread wings to appear larger when threatened.
Relatively calm compared to more aggressive mantis species.
🍽️ Diet:
Carnivorous: eats crickets, flies, roaches, and other insects.
🐣 Lifespan & Reproduction:
Lifespan: 8–12 months in captivity
Reproduction: Females lay oothecae; cannibalism during mating is possible but not guaranteed.