About Acanthops falcataria Goeze, 1778
Acanthops falcataria Goeze, 1778, commonly called the South American dead leaf mantis, is a mantis species belonging to the family Acanthopidae. This species should not be confused with Acanthops falcata, a different species in the same genus that frequently shares the same common name. Like many other mantis species from multiple genera, A. falcataria has a physical appearance that resembles a dead leaf. Compared to other mantids, species in the Acanthops genus display an unusually high degree of sexual dimorphism. The flightless female of A. falcataria resembles a curled dead leaf and weighs twice as much as the male. Females have reduced wings; when these wings are lifted, they expose bright warning colors on the abdomen. Males are strong fliers with long, fully functional wings that look like a flat or rolled-up dead leaf when at rest. When perched, males often hold a posture that makes their head, grasping legs, and prothorax improve their camouflage by mimicking the shriveled petiole and stipules of a dead leaf. This species is native to South America.
