Ancylecha fenestrata
| Distribution: | Malaysia |
| Size: | 70-75 mm body |
| Diet: | Various leaves |
Whilst not necessarily obvious when splayed out as in my illustration, these katydid’s are excellent leaf mimics. As with leaf insects, some may even have brown, irregular edges to their tegmina (forewings) which resemble the dying edges of leaves.
Interestingly, first instar nymphs have a number of red patches on their bodies which, when contrasted with their more typical green, make them partially resemble the shape of a spider. This is likely a form of defensive mimicry. Once they’ve grown out of this awkward experimental spider phase (we’ve all had one), they settle into their green leafy appearance.
Take a closer look…
