Southeast Asian Dead Leaf Mantis (Diversity of Life on Earth – Japanese Giant Mantis Vol. 2 by Bandai)

Earlier this year I reviewed a pair of Japanese giant mantids (Tenodera aridifolia) from Bandai’s Diversity of Life on Earth Line. In October of this year, the second volume in the mantid series was released. As the name of the set suggests, there were two more figures of T. aridifolia in Volume 2, but there were also two additional species representing dead leaf mantids in the genus Deroplatys: D. lobata and D. truncata. The two Deroplatys species were both released in light and dark forms; I only purchased a dark version of one and a light version of the other (due to their size, expense, and required assembly, I didn’t think I needed more than one of each). Today we will be looking at the light form of D. lobata. Also, while the D. truncata figures are new species in the toy and figure realm, I cannot say the same about D. lobata, as literally one month earlier Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. also released this species in their Primary Color Mimetic Insects collection.

As the common name suggests, D. lobata is endemic to Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The mantids live on the ground among fallen and dead leaves in tropical rainforests. In order to avoid being eaten by predators, D. lobata has developed an astounding morphology to mimic dead leaves (I would have liked to have photographed this among dead leaves outside, but we got a big dump of snow yesterday and not sure when it will melt or sublimate). When confronted by a predator, they can also put on a threatening display by opening up their wings and spreading their forelegs, revealing bright and confusing colors that mimic eyes and a face.

Like other figures in the Diversity of Life Line, these mantids are large, expensive, require assembly, and the final products are heavily articulated. Today’s figure came in 13 pieces: 1) prothorax + front legs, 2) the four remaining legs, 3) the remainder of the thorax + abdomen, 4) four wings, 5) head, and 6) two antennae. The final product has articulations in the 1) head-prothorax juncture, 2) prothorax-mesothorax juncture, 3) multiple abdominal segments, 4) four points along each of the forelegs, 5) base of the four mesothoracic and metathoracic legs, and 6) base of each wing. The figure can be displayed resting with its forewings folded, or in flight with its hind wings exposed (the hind wings will only attach if the forewings are open); there is also a base to display it in mid-air flight.

I should point out that getting the legs and wings on was a chore! I had to drop the specimen and its appendages in warm water to soften the plastic ever so slightly in order to get the ball peg on the appendages into the socket joint on the thorax. At least I hope this means they will be a snug fit and not prone to popping off!

The figure has a body length 12.0 for a scale of just under 2:1 (the aforementioned Takara figure is 1:1 scale). The dorsal surface of the prothorax and front wings are well-painted, but most of the rest of the figure is a monotone tan. There is some orange and characteristic black maculae under each of the forelegs, but the markings on the underside of the forewings and on the hindwings is lacking (this is a common trend among these recent Bandai figures, with paint detail only on certain parts, usually the exposed dorsal surface). Perhaps it was intended to be painted by the consumer?

So there we have a review of Bandai’s Deroplatys lobata. As previously mentioned, this is a model for serious collectors and not a toy to be played with. If someone wanted this species in their collection, the Takara figure is smaller and has minimal assembly. Since both are relatively recent releases, both should be easy to find at the time of this writing.