About Choeradodis stalii Wood-Mason, 1880
Choeradodis stalii is a species of praying mantis with three common names: tropical shield mantis, hooded mantis, and leaf mantis. This species occurs in Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, and Peru. According to an insect breeding hobbyist, Choeradodis stalii is one of the most impressive of all mantis mimicry species. It mimics the form of a leaf more extensively than any other mantis species, and it has the largest hood of all leaf-mimicking mantis species. To better blend into their surroundings, they hold a flat body posture and spend most of their time in low-lying positions. This mantis species is rare in captivity, and only experienced mantis breeders have successfully reared it and have individuals available. Newly hatched nymphs of this species have a bright red color that sets them apart from other species in the genus Choeradodis. They begin to develop a partial hood even in their earliest nymphal life stages. With each molt, nymphs become more greenish in color and their hood increases in size, until they reach their full adult form.
