Bug of the Week Vol.2- Orchid Mantis

1 April 2024

She’s the reason why women’s beauty standards are so damn high. We all wish we were her. Introducing the orchid mantis, scientifically known as “Hymenopus coronatus”.

Physical Description

The orchid mantis has a pink and white body, with patterns and shades varying between each individual critter. They have the ability to change colours depending on the season, mimicking the lifecycle of a flower. Impressively, the mantis can make very specific changes to its appearance which includes camouflaging with the exact species of orchid it lives near. Femoral lobes on orchid mantises legs are petal shaped, aiding their camouflage skills, as well as giving them the ability to glide. Gliding is a unique tactic used to lessen damage from falling, as well as escaping predators swiftly. They are able to fly, with males using their wings more as they are smaller and more energetic. Female orchid mantises are approximately 6cm in length, while male orchid mantises are 2-3cm (short kings).

Life Cycle

Due to male orchid mantises being significantly smaller, their life cycles are also short as they mature much faster and live for only 5-6 months, which is at risk of being even shorter due to the female mantises famous habit of beheading its sexual partners… she really does have it all. Female mantises live for around 8 months, which after mating and eating her boyfriend, lays her eggs in an “ootheca”, a foamy capsule which many insect species use.

Diet

Adult orchid mantises eat other insects, primarily flying insects, including butterflies, fruit flies, locust etc. Its prey mistakes the mantis for an orchid flower, causing them to rest on the mantis shortly before being attacked and devoured. This also aids the orchid mantis whilst hiding from prey, as birds, bats and large spiders would overlook the insect.

Location

Orchid mantises are native to Malaysia, which is also home to many orchid flower species. Mantis enjoy a high amount of humidity, which makes South East Asia’s tropical climate ideal. Malaysia also has really good food including my personal favourite Nasi Lemak, so I think orchid mantis made a really good choice for their habitat.