Metallyticus fallax
Metallyticus fallax is a species of praying mantis, found in Southeast Asia. It has an iridescent appearance.[1][2] It is very similar to the Metallyticus splendidus.
| Metallyticus fallax | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Metallyticidae |
| Genus: | Metallyticus |
| Species: | M. fallax |
| Binomial name | |
| Metallyticus fallax Giglio-Tos, 1917 | |
Biology and Ecology
The M.fallax has several pleisomorphic morphological traits, such as its short prothorax, a lack of discoidal spines. Unlike the other mantid species, the Metallyticus species are unique because of their iridescent colouring, meaning this is the only genus with this characteristic. M.fallax has more ventral cervical sclerites than M.splendidus.[3]
This mantis tends to rest underneath the bark of trees, feeding on butterflies, termites, flies, and mainly on cockroaches. They also chase after their prey, rather than ambushing them like most mantis species.[3]
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-18. Tree of Life Web Project. 2005
- Texas A&M University
- Wieland, Frank (September 2008). "The genus Metallyticus reviewed (Insecta: Mantodea)" (PDF). Entomoresin.
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