Stats

Lifespan: Up to 1 yr
Size: Medium
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Southeast Asia
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

The orchid mantis is a master of floral mimicry — its petal-like leg lobes and pink-and-white coloration so convincingly resemble an orchid bloom that pollinators fly directly to it. Remarkably, it doesn't even need a real flower nearby; its own body is attractive enough to lure prey.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Hymenopodidae
Genus: Hymenopus
Species: Hymenopus coronatus