Deroplatys lobata
| Distribution: | Thailand, Java, Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra & the Malay Peninsula |
| Size: | 65 – 70mm (female), 45mm (male) |
| Diet: | Other bugs |
D.lobata lives primarily on the ground amongst dead leaves, so you can see why its incredible mimicry is so useful. Like many mantises, the prothorax is enlarged, and in this case it’s crumpled to enhance the camouflage. But it’s the forewings that are the most impressive part – veined, blotchy and irregularly edged, when folded against the body they absolutely sell the illusion.
If disturbed, a dead leaf mantis has 2 strategies. It’ll either employ a startle display – raising its raptorial forelegs and extending its bold wings, or drop motionless to the floor like me if I stand up too quickly.
This illustration is (so far) my all-time favourite. It took over 150 hours and was a real slog, but I had to do this incredible detail justice. In many illustrations of winged insects, I’ll draw 1 wing then duplicate it and make small amendments, but I knew with this specimen that I had to capture the subtle differences in shape and colour between the 2 forewings. Like the assassin bug, this illustration looks magnificent when printed A3.
Take a closer look…
