STARTLE DISPLAY

Banded Mantis Theopropus elegans

Deroplatys sp.

Hymenopus coronatus

CAMOUFLAGE

Deroplatys sp. - 'dry leaf'

Teopoma tosta - 'tree bark'

Hierodula sp. - 'new leaf'

Tenodera sp. - 'grass blade'

Hymenopus coronatus - 'flower'

Theopropus elegans - 'flower bud'

MIMICING BUGS

Theopropus elegans

Parhymenopus davidsoni

Creobroter urbanus

Hymenopus coronatus

It is believed that newly hatched nymphs in some mantis species, like those above, mimic assassin bugs (fam. Reduviidae) like the one below. These bugs are distastful to most of the predators and feared by many insects and spiders.