Lichen-mimicry
Guides
Arphiini
Arphiini is a tribe of band-winged grasshoppers within the subfamily Oedipodinae (family Acrididae). The tribe contains genera notable for remarkable cryptic coloration that matches rock and lichen substrates. Members exhibit striking intraspecific color polymorphism, with individuals ranging from blue-green lichen-mimics to brown and black forms adapted to barren rock surfaces. The tribe is part of a globally distributed group historically treated as the family Oedipodidae.
Feralia februalis
A small noctuid moth of the Pacific West, notable for its sea-green mottled coloration that resembles lichen. Adults fly from late winter through early spring and are strongly attracted to lights. The species is narrowly endemic to oak-associated habitats and has been identified as management-sensitive due to its dependence on Quercus species as larval host plants.
Gonatista grisea
Grizzled Mantis, Florida Bark Mantis, Lichen Mimic Mantis
Gonatista grisea is a bark-dwelling praying mantis native to the southeastern United States. It exhibits exceptional cryptic coloration resembling lichen, earning it the common name "lichen mimic mantis." The species perches head-down on tree trunks to ambush prey and has been documented in Florida, Alabama, and surrounding states. It is one of over twenty native mantis species in the United States, though less frequently encountered than introduced species.
Leuronotina ritensis
lichen grasshopper
Leuronotina ritensis is a band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae, tribe Arphiini. It is native to the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona, where it inhabits lichen-encrusted rock outcroppings. The species exhibits remarkable cryptic coloration that closely matches the crustose lichens of its habitat, making it exceptionally difficult to detect when stationary.
Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus species group
The Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus species group is a taxonomic grouping within the genus Melanoplus (spur-throated grasshoppers), a diverse genus of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. Species in this group are characterized by specific morphological features, including obovate or distinctive wing shapes. Members such as Melanoplus rusticus (obovate-winged grasshopper) exhibit cryptic coloration adapted to rocky, lichen-covered habitats. The group is part of the larger Melanoplinae subfamily, whose members possess a diagnostic spur between the front legs and a face oriented perpendicular to the body axis. Species in this group are found in western and central North America, often associated with xeric grasslands and rocky outcrops.