Just like a beautiful flower, even with the swaying effect of petals in the wind, the orchid mantis is truly a “bloodthirsty” assassin with ruthlessly sophisticated hunting tactics.
With an appearance resembling a delicate and beautiful orchid flower, the orchid mantis (scientific name: Hymenopus coronatus) is considered a master of camouflage in the natural world, captivating scientists and insect collectors alike.
The orchid mantis is nearly invisible among the orchid petals. (Photo: Flickr).
This unique insect primarily inhabits the rainforests of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Resembling an Orchid Flower
Although it does not live on orchid flowers, this mantis species has an appearance strikingly similar to an orchid flower with a spectacular mimicry tactic.
Aside from its serrated forelegs, used to grip prey like other mantis species, Hymenopus coronatus has developed a wide abdomen and four flattened hind legs that resemble petals, causing both predators and its prey to be completely deceived.
Its size is even comparable to real flowers, with adult females measuring about 6-7 cm in length, while males are only about 2.5 cm long.
The orchid mantis even utilizes a swaying effect like real petals. (Source: Shutterstock)
What is most impressive is that the mantis can change color depending on the light or temperature, making it not only resemble orchids in general but also look exactly like specific orchid species nearby.
Scientists have noted that the orchid mantis has over 90 different patterns and color tones, depending on the species of orchid it chooses to inhabit.
When it perches on an orchid branch, its body also exhibits a swaying effect like petals in the wind.
Interestingly, these camouflaged mantises attract more insects for pollination than real flowers do.
Living Like an Orchid
The orchid mantis not only looks like an orchid but in many ways, it also lives like one.
In the rainforests, this insect is found in shrubs and on trees—places where epiphytic orchids grow (epiphytic plants grow harmlessly on other trees).
The orchid mantis is the first known insect capable of mimicking an entire flower, from color to shape. (Source: Getty Images).
The orchid mantis even prefers weather similar to orchids, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25-29 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures of 17-18 degrees Celsius. It also thrives in high humidity, ideally at 60-70% humidity.
Hunting Tactics
Instead of searching for prey, this mantis species remains motionless for hours on the orchid branches, waiting for prey to fly close enough to grasp with its sharp pincers at lightning speed.
The orchid mantis is highly predatory, ready to attack any moving object within its sight.
Its diet consists of various insects, especially bees and butterflies, which often visit flowers to sip nectar. It also preys on beetles, and even scorpions, frogs, and small lizards.
Surprising Discoveries
When studying the evolution of the orchid mantis, American scientists uncovered some surprising tricks.
Since its discovery over 100 years ago, these orchid mantises were believed to have evolved beautiful pinkish-white colors and wide, flat legs resembling orchid petals as a form of camouflage to protect themselves from predators and confuse their prey for stealthy attacks.
An orchid mantis feeding on a fly. (Source: The Conversation).
This type of evolutionary camouflage is used for defensive or aggressive purposes. Other insect species, such as katydids, also mimic dry leaves to blend in with branches.
However, in 2014, scientists conducted systematic field experiments to observe how adult female orchid mantises operate and discovered that their mimicry is an aggressive form of mimicry, not just camouflage. They are truly sophisticated and ruthless assassins.
Orchid mantises not only hide among flowers but can also perch on other plant substrates like trunks, branches, and leaves. No matter where they rest, they attract nectar-feeding insects even more than real flowers.
Researchers found that nectar-feeding species, such as bees, “have deviated from their flight paths and flown straight towards this deceptive predator.”
Scientists believe that mantises may not actually mimic a specific type of flower accurately. Instead, they exploit the “rule of thumb” in insect brains regarding food recognition, meaning anything fitting color X is seen as a nectar-rich flower.
The orchid mantis takes advantage of this by “exploiting the senses.” It presents a concentrated mass of color that matches an extraordinary stimulus. Nectar-feeding insects classify the mantis as a giant flower full of nectar and rush in to meet their demise.
Female orchid mantises are three times larger than males, a phenomenon known as sexual dimorphism, which in other animal and insect species usually serves reproductive purposes. However, in this insect species, scientists were intrigued to find that this is not the case at all.
A pair of orchid mantises mating. (Photo: Jason Zhu).
A 2016 study led by Dr. Gavin Svenson from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) reported this rare discovery of adaptation in females of a species aimed at predation rather than reproduction.
According to Svenson, males lead entirely different lives from females; they are omnivorous, eating anything they catch, and have a narrow range of movement, trying to find mates while avoiding predators.
The research team believes that the size and behavioral differentiation between males and females seem to allow females to become better predators, while smaller males can more easily avoid being eaten (by females themselves) and increase their chances of mating.
