Metallyticus fallax
{{short description|Species of praying mantis}}
{{Speciesbox
| taxon = Metallyticus fallax
| authority = Giglio-Tos, 1917
}}
Metallyticus fallax is a species of praying mantis found in Southeast Asia. It has an iridescent appearance."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-18. Tree of Life Web Project. 2005[http://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Arthropoda/Insects/Mantodea/Family/Amorphoscelidae.txt] Texas A&M University It is very similar to Metallyticus splendidus.
Biology and Ecology
Metallyticus fallax has several plesiomorphic morphological traits, such as its short prothorax and lack of discoidal spines. It has more ventral cervical sclerites than Metallyticus splendidus.{{Cite web|url=http://entomoresin.com/1pdf/mantis10.pdf|title=The genus Metallyticus reviewed (Insecta: Mantodea)|last=Wieland|first=Frank|date=September 2008|website=Entomoresin}}
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.
References
{{reflist}}
{{taxonbar|from=Q10582661}}
Category:Insects of Southeast Asia
Category:Insects described in 1917
{{Mantodea-stub}}