Species · GBIF taxon 1406471
Orchid Mantis
Hymenopus coronatusAlso known as Walking Flower Mantis, Orchid-Blossom Mantis, Pink Orchid Mantis
Orchid mantises exhibit one of the most sophisticated examples of aggressive mimicry in the animal kingdom, sporting petal-like femoral lobes in shades of brilliant pink and white. They sit motionless on flowers or leaves, swaying gently to imitate wind-blown blossoms while waiting for unsuspecting pollinators to fly directly into their grasp. Females grow more than twice the size of males, a stark sexual dimorphism that dictates their differing hunting strategies and lifespans.
CamouflagedPredatoryTropical
Licensed referenceLuc Viatour / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Honeybees
- Butterflies
- Hoverflies
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Jumping spiders
ThreatsHabitat destruction and over-collection for the exotic pet trade
HabitatsTropical rainforests and warm, humid shrublands
Life span5 to 9 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyHymenopodidae
- SpeciesHymenopus coronatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Look for Movement: Scan flowering bushes in humid environments, watching for a blossom that sways out of sync with the wind.
- Observe Quietly: Avoid touching these delicate insects, as handling can easily damage their fragile, petal-like limbs.
- Watch the Forelegs: Look closely at the front legs to see the sharp, spine-lined raptorial claws tucked beneath the head.
Taxonomic Cousin Jpogi / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Yasunori Koide / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Distant Relative "European Mantis - Mantis religiosa" by Björn S... is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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