Stats

Lifespan

Annual

Size

Large

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate shrubland

Range

Southern Europe

Movement

Walking

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This mantis lives in dry fields across Europe and the western United States. It flashes a bright orange eyespot on its hindwings to startle incoming predators.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Mantodea

Family

Eremiaphilidae

Genus

Iris

Species

Iris oratoria