Flower mantis

Flower mantises are a group of insects that use a clever survival strategy called aggressive mimicry. This technique allows them to look and act like something else to achieve their goals. They use these disguises to attract prey and to hide from predators. By mimicking the colors and behaviors of flowers, they blend into their natural habitats. Most known species of these mantises belong to the family Hymenopodidae. They are a diurnal group, meaning they are active during the daylight hours.

The mechanism of their mimicry involves both visual and chemical deception. Visually, many species use specific colorations to match the foliage and flowers around them. For example, the orchid mantis, known scientifically as Hymenopus coronatus, has a body that is often white with pink markings. This insect can even absorb ultraviolet (UV) light in the same way that real flowers do. Because many pollinators are sensitive to UV light, the mantis appears blue to them. This blue color contrasts against the red appearance of the background foliage.

Chemical mimicry is another layer of deception used by certain life stages. Juvenile orchid mantises perform aggressive chemical mimicry to lure their preferred prey. They secrete a mixture of two specific chemicals: 3HOA and 10HDA. These chemicals are stored in their mandibles, which are the mouthparts used for biting. When hunting, the juveniles release these substances to imitate the pheromones of the oriental bumblebee. This chemical trick specifically attracts the bees, but adult mantises do not produce these chemicals.

The physical appearance of these insects changes as they grow through different life stages. This is known as a morphological dichotomy. In the case of the orchid mantis, the juveniles can bend their abdomens upward. This movement allows them to look much more like a flower. However, once they become adults, their wings grow too large for this behavior. This change suggests that adults must rely on other processes to attract their prey.

Historical accounts have helped scientists understand how these mantises hunt in the wild. In his 1940 book, *Adaptive Coloration in Animals*, Hugh Cott shared observations from Nelson Annandale. Annandale described the orchid mantis hunting on the flowers of the Straits Rhododendron, or *Melastoma polyanthum*. He noted that the nymph acts as a decoy through its special alluring coloration. The mantis will climb up plant twigs and stand still to imitate a flower. It may also sway from side to side to appear more realistic to passing insects.

There is a wide variety of flower mantis species found across different parts of the world. The orchid mantis is native to Southeast Asia. In contrast, the Egyptian flower mantis, or *Blepharopsis mendica*, is found in North Africa and the Canary Islands. The *Idolomantis diabolica*, known as the giant devil's flower mantis, lives in Central and East Africa. These large insects can reach up to 13 cm in length. Other species, like the *Creobroter gemmatus*, are found in South and Southeast Asia.

These insects are often studied for their unique defensive behaviors, such as deimatic displays. A deimatic display is a sudden movement or color flash used to startle a predator. For example, the *Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii* can flash bright hindwings to scare away threats. The *Blepharopsis mendica* can rotate its head and thorax to one side during such a display. Many of these species are also popular among people who keep insects as pets. Their complex lives show how closely animals are connected to the plants in their ecosystems.