Hapalopeza nilgirica
| Hapalopeza nilgirica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nymph of Hapalopeza nilgirica in Kerala, India | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Gonypetidae |
| Genus: | Hapalopeza |
| Species: | H. nilgirica |
| Binomial name | |
| Hapalopeza nilgirica Wood-Mason, 1891 | |
Hapalopeza nilgirica is a species of praying mantis in the family Gonypetidae endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The species has been recorded from the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.[1][2]
Taxonomy
The species was described by James Wood-Mason in 1891. For several decades, Hapalopeza periyara Mukherjee & Hazra, 1985 was treated as a separate species based on morphological differences. However, a 2025 integrative taxonomic study combining morphology and mitochondrial COI molecular analysis concluded that the diagnostic characters varied continuously within populations and synonymized H. periyara under H. nilgirica.[1]
Description
Hapalopeza nilgirica is a small and agile praying mantis. Nymphs are reddish-brown and resemble Asian weaver ants, an example of ant mimicry that may help reduce predation during early developmental stages.[2] Adults lose the ant-like appearance and develop cryptic coloration better suited for camouflage in vegetation.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India.[3] Verified observations and taxonomic studies have documented the species from Kerala and other parts of the southern Western Ghats.[1][4]
References
- 1 2 3 Kamila, A. P.; Sureshan, P. M. (2025). "From morphology to molecules: resolving the four-decade old taxonomic ambiguity of an Indian Hapalopeza (Insecta: Mantodea)". Oriental Insects. doi:10.1080/00305316.2025.2589836.
- 1 2 3 "Transformational mimicry in insects" (PDF). Indian Entomologist. 6 (2): 79. 2026.
- ↑ "About the Western Ghats". WWF India. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ↑ "Hapalopeza nilgirica". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 16 May 2026.