Horelophopsinae

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Supercohort: Polyneoptera
Cohort: Dictyoptera
Ordo: Mantodea

Familia: Metallyticidae
Genera (1): Metallyticus
Name
Metallyticidae Chopard, 1949

Metallyticus is a genus of praying mantis. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Metallyticidae. They are mostly found in South-East Asia. The species of the genus are dark, somewhat flattened and cockroach-like, and often with a cuticle that is reflective and metallic in appearance.[1][2]

The phylogenetic position of Metallyticidae relative to other mantis families has been studied using both morphological and molecular characters, but consensus on its placement has not been achieved.[3] Along with the genera Chaeteessa and Mantoida, Metallyticus is considered a member of the basal Mantodea,[3] though some scientists consider the application of this term to extant species to be misleading.[4] Metallyticidae species have several autapomorphic traits, including their metallic coloration and the enlarged spine on their front legs. They also have many plesiomorphic traits, including a relatively short pronotum and full wings in both sexes.[3]

Of the five species, M. splendidus and M. violaceus are the most abundant. Most specimens for scientific study have been found in Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and the Malay Peninsula.[3]

Species in this family are distinct from other mantises in their method of prey capture; Metallyticus species typically dart to capture prey, remaining close to the ground, rather than waiting to ambush. These species are usually found in or under bark of decaying trees.[3]
Species

Metallyticus fallax Giglio-Tos, 1917
Metallyticus pallipes Giglio-Tos, 1917
Metallyticus semiaeneus Westwood, 1889
Metallyticus splendidus Westwood, 1835
Metallyticus violaceus (Burmeister, 1838)

References

"genus Metallyticus Westwood, 1835: Mantodea Species File". mantodea.speciesfile.org. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
"Metallyticus". tolweb.org. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
Wieland, Frank (2008). "The genus Metallyticus reviewed (Insecta:Mantodea)" (PDF). Species, Phylogeny and Evolution. 1: 147–170.
Krell, Frank T.; Cranston, Peter S. (2004). "Which side of the tree is more basal?". Systematic Entomology. 29 (3): 279–281. doi:10.1111/j.0307-6970.2004.00262.x