Bark-mantis
Guides
Liturgusa
Lichen Mantises, Bark Mantises
Liturgusa is a genus of Neotropical bark mantises comprising more than twenty species. Unlike typical mantises, Liturgusa species are exceptionally fast runners that actively pursue prey rather than ambush it. They inhabit tree trunks and branches, where their flattened bodies and cryptic coloration provide effective camouflage against bark, moss, and lichen. The genus was revised in 2014, revealing substantially greater diversity than previously recognized.
Liturgusa maya
Mayan Lichen Mantis
Liturgusa maya is a Neotropical bark mantis species first described in 1894. It inhabits tree trunks and branches in tropical forests, exhibiting exceptional speed and flattened body morphology adapted for crypsis among bark, moss, and lichen. The species has demonstrated notable geographic expansion through human-mediated introduction, with established non-native populations in Florida (USA) and the Galápagos Islands. In its native range, it has been documented as a frequent inhabitant of cacao agroecosystems in Peru. The species is parthenogenetic in at least some introduced populations.
Tarachodidae
bark mantises
Tarachodidae is a family of mantises commonly known as bark mantises, found in Africa and Asia. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subfamilies Caliridinae and Tarachodinae now reassigned to other families. The genus Galepsus, a primary representative of this family, has been studied for its distribution across Southern Africa and its life history traits. Research on Galepsus species has revealed distinctive reproductive strategies, including extended female longevity and extended intervals between ootheca production to reduce sibling competition.