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Mantis dead leaf

Today I bring you another super spectacular mantis that will amaze you, we saw in the previous publication how this insect has the ability to mutate and look very much like the environment where it develops, also the need that are the high temperatures to be able to live as it needs excessive humidity. Today it is the turn of the dead leaf mantis. Come with me to learn more about this incredible animal.

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Its scientific name is Deroplatys desiccata, is one of the largest mantis species that can exist, is also known under the name of Asian giant mantis, is endemic to Southeast Asia being Malaysian the country that most concentrates species of this unique species.

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As its name indicates this mantis has the form of a dry one, reason, why it is common to find it in places where there is foliage of dead leaves, dry leaves, the capacity to imitate in its body the almost exact patterns of a leaf, is incredible to the naked eye, this natural camouflage allows it to be stealthy and very slippery it is almost impossible to find it between the vegetation, this helps it to be successful while it prepares to hunt.

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It has a thorax or ventral area very flattened, with parts very similar to the leaves, its color is different shades of brown, although sometimes they can be found with a lighter brown color and at the end with black colors.

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As almost all mantis depends on oscillating movements that imitate the air that crosses the vegetation, achieving this way to move with the almost exact artificial movement to as it acts in a natural way in the leaves the common air. It is the largest of the species of mantis, managing to measure a maximum of 80mm in length, in all species of mantis there is a sexual dimorphism contrasted by the lower size of males, their diet is based on the consumption of moths mainly, hunting when the moths approach the flowers to pollinate, and as the camouflage of the mantis is so powerful the moth and many animals fail to detect the presence of this incredible insect.

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The ideal temperature for the development of this mantis, is 32 degrees centigrade maximum, although mainly eats moths also consumes other types of insects such as flour worms, flies, crickets, insects larger than their size.

This animal is very aggressive with others of the same species, and when they fight often practice cannibalism, the female in each breeding season is very likely to eat the male after sex. The dead leaf mantis is characterized by being a mantis with a lot of force in his legs, as the main weapon of destruction is his folding elbows that have powerful blades.

Its habitat will always be where there is a lot of vegetation so it can survive a long time thanks to the shape of its body that does not generate contrast that put it in danger, as well as can go unnoticed with its shape similar to dead leaves. This species will always be hanging from a branch near dry leaves.

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Therefore it is difficult to find it because its natural disguise is one of the safest that can exist.

Recently this species was declared a medium danger due to its hunting to be sold as pets.