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Interesting ground beetle - from Wikipedia - "Mormolyce phyllodes can reach a length of 60–100 millimetres (2.4–3.9 in).[4] These beetles possess a flat leaf-shaped, shiny black or brown body with distinctive violin-shaped translucent elytra (hence the common name). This characteristic mimicry protects them against predators, while their flat shaped body allow them to dwell in soil cracks or under the bark and leaves of trees. Head and pronotum are very elongated, with long antennae and the legs are long and slender.[4][5]

Both adults and larvae are predators, feeding on insect larvae. For defense purposes, they secrete the poisonous butyric acid.[4][5] The larvae live between layers of bracket fungi, genus Polyporus. Their development lasts 8–9 months, while pupation lasts 8–10 weeks. Adults fly from August to November.[4]

This is the most commonly offered (of 3 sp.) - Mormolyce phyllodes - 104mm from Malaysia


Another sp. M. hagenbachi - 94mm also from Malaysia


John K.

3rd sp. - M. castelnaudi -77mm - also from Malaysia


A comparison of all 3 sp. - Mormolyce phyllodes, M. hagenbachi & M. castelnaudi


John K.

This is one of my favorite genura! Though I only have three in my collection (a specimen of each of the three species that are usually available). It is worth mentioning that there are several more species in the genus (6-7 total I think), most just never come up for sale. Anyway, here's my three.

Despite apparently being quite common in the places it occurs in southern peninsular Thailand, Mormolyce phyllodes is one of the relatively few beetles protected by law in Thailand.

Adam.