bettalbimarginata: onenicebugperday:Asian ant mantis, Odontomantis planiceps, HymenopodidaeFound thr

bettalbimarginata:

onenicebugperday:

Asian ant mantis, Odontomantis planiceps, Hymenopodidae

Found throughout South and Southeast Asia

Photos 1-4 by msone, 5 by ihenglan, and 6-7 by purabchowdhury

Yeah, this would fool me at most distances. I was looking at this trying to figure out if it’s a mantis, or something more closely related to an ant that convergently evolved with mantids. Like mantidflies did. 

These also run about like ants when they’re small, they mimic the movement patterns as well. And yes, people do keep them as pets, though the adults are adorably tiddly (but no longer ant like)