The Orchid Mantis
The Orchid Mantis I know isn’t really an orchid but it was just so unique and it does have orchid in the name I just couldn’t pass up putting this on my web page This Mantis is amazing how it really looks like an orchid, no matter what color or what position its in it looks like an orchid and camouflage itself like a chameleon. Believe it or not, people buy these as pets. They are called Orchid Mantises because they mimic orchid flowers. Their back two sets of legs are elegantly lobed just like the flower.
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You have to admit they are beautiful, for a bug...
Looking at these is kind of like playing where's Waldo... they can really blend in!
Facts about the Malaysian Orchid Mantis
The orchid mantis is a praying mantis, which has got its name because it resembles the flower of an orchid with its four walking legs resembling flower petals. Most are white, but there is also a pink to purplish color morph.
Females reach a total length of about 2 1/2 which is big for a bug and have six abdominal segments. They are able to fly. They molt seven times until reaching adulthood, and their life span is about eight months. They are very aggressive and should be kept singly except for mating. Males are considerably smaller, just 1 1/2 inches long, and have eight abdominal segments. They molt just five times, and live for five to six months only. If ample food is provided they may be kept in groups. Males fly very well and mature far more quickly than females.
About two weeks after their last molt, females are ready to mate. Days or weeks after mating, they will lay their oothecae, i.e. clusters of eggs surrounded by a foam of protein, which are approximately 2 inches in length and are white in color at first, but change to a light brown after a day or two. About 50 to 100 nymphs will hatch out within 5-6 weeks. The hatchlings will be red and black at first and will take on their white and pink colors after their first molt.
The diet of juveniles (nymphs) consists of small insects. Adults will eat anything they can catch, including a wide range of flying insects and small lizards. They obviously eat also little bits of bananaecae, i.e. clusters of eggs surrounded by a foam of protein, which are approximately 2 inches in length and are white in color at first, but change to a light brown after a day or two. About 50 to 100 nymphs will hatch out within 5-6 weeks. The hatchlings will be red and black at first and will take on their white and pink colors after their first molt.
The diet of juveniles (nymphs) consists of small insects. Adults will eat anything they can catch, including a wide range of flying insects and small lizards. They obviously eat also little bits of banana
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