Deroplatys desiccata and Deroplatys lobata, often grouped together as the “dead leaf mantids,” are extraordinary examples of camouflage in the insect world. Native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia, these mantids have evolved flattened, jagged thoraxes and mottled brown coloration that make them look almost identical to dried, crumpled leaves. This disguise allows them to remain hidden from predators while lying in wait for unsuspecting prey.
 
In the wild, they inhabit the forest floor and understory vegetation, where leaf litter is abundant. Their hunting strategy is one of patience and stealth: they remain motionless, blending into the background until a fly, moth, or small grasshopper comes close enough to be seized by their raptorial forelegs. When threatened, they can perform a dramatic display by flaring their thorax and wings, exaggerating their leaf-like outline to confuse or startle predators.