The Orchid Mantis | 10 Curiosities of this beautiful murderess

In nature there are many animals that attract our attention for their curious behavior. We are amazed and sometimes we are horrified by situations that are biologically determined, but that are incomprehensible to us. The praying mantis Y its action after mating is one of them. In this article we want to approach another very special mantis: The Orchid Mantis. Discover 10 Curiosities of this beautiful murderer.

The mantids, popularly known as "mantis" are an order of insects neoptera that has more than 2,450 species. They live all over the planet, but preferably in the tropics. One of its main characteristics is the ease of camouflage or mimic in the environment in which they live. In the case of Mantis Orchid , takes a form and color similar to those of these plants, but does not live only among them, but camouflages between different types of flowers.

10 Curiosities of the Orchid Mantis

1. The Mantis Orchid belongs to a group of mantis that imitates flowers and are part of the "Hymenopodidae family". Its main feature is aggressive mimicry, which means that they are predators that camouflage themselves with colors and patterns to attract their prey. Its technical name is "Hymenopus coronatus", although it is also known as "Mantis orquidea malaya" or "Mantis orquidea rosada" .

The Orchid Mantis

2. The habitat of these curious creatures are the rainforests of Indonesia , Malaysia, Burma, Thailand or Sumatra.

3. Their usual food is the prey that gets camouflaged like a flower. Usually eat small insects such as flies, crickets, fruit flies, beetles, bees and even those of the same species of smaller size. They can also eat small lizards or toads. However, not only consume animals, but one of the curiosities that characterize it is that it can also feed on ripe bananas and is the only species of praying mantis that eats them.

The Orchid Mantis 1

4. To blend in, the body of the mantis, brightly colored, manages to resemble an orchid. This is what helps her camouflage herself between the flowers, allowing her to attack her prey. The four legs used for walking are very similar to the petals of orchids and instead, the front ones, which are toothed, have the function of grabbing their prey.

The Mantis Orchid 2

5. The body of the mantis orchid it is so similar to that of a flower that the insect climbs up and down the branches of the plants until it finds one with flowers among which it can camouflage. When he finds the right place, he grabs the branches with his back legs and swings from side to side like any flower measured by the wind. In addition, his body has a small black spot on the end of his abdomen that is confused by the flies with one of his own species and for that reason they approach quiet to be, immediately after, devoured by the mantis.

6. Hymenopus coronatus presents one of the largest sexual dimorphisms among all mantis species. In general, the females are larger than the males, but in the case of mantis orchids the difference between them is very pronounced, so that one sex is half the size of the other. The females measure from 7 to 8 cm. and the males between 3 and 4 cm. In general, it has been observed that female mantids eat the males especially in captivity since they obtain the nutrients they need for their young. In freedom, 83% of mantis males are not consumed by their sexual partners.

The Orchid Mantis 3

7. The camouflage of this peculiar insect has a double purpose. On the one hand it is a way of aggressive mimicry with which to attract its prey and on the other it is a way of deceiving its predators.

8. There is an urban legend that says that mantids are dangerous. It is not true. The mantis are aggressive and the mantis orchid also, but they do not sting or are poisonous. In some countries they are even eaten and in others they are considered sacred animals because of their position in which they seem to be praying.

The Orchid Mantis 4

9. The life expectancy of a mantis is between eight months and one year. The nymphs, in order not to be predated, before developing are orange and black to look like the insects of the family Reduviidae (which belong to the bedbugs) and have an unpleasant taste, in addition to a powerful bite. When they move, they take the white and pink colors that will resemble orchid flowers, although both light and humidity will influence their final color.

10. The Mantis Orchid and many other floral mantises are very popular as pets, but there seems to be some difficulty in getting them to breed in captivity and they are very expensive.

The mantis orchid It has a behavior very similar to that of other mantises, but it has the peculiarity of its beauty. Did you know this curious insect? Do you have more information about him? Share it with us and we can expand this list of curiosities. If you want to meet other extraordinary looking animals, we invite you to read:

  • The Purple Snail | 10 Curiosities of this incredible color animal
  • The Panda Ant | 15 Curiosities of a very rare animal
  • Dendrobates tinctorius, the dangerous blue frog
  • The pink Grasshopper | Condemned to die Why?
  • Poecilotheria metallica, the amazing and beautiful blue tarantula

Images: Luc Viatour , Raffi Kojian , Sara Bea Delgado


Loading ..

Recent Posts

Loading ..