The 30 Most Beautiful Insects in the World
Orchid Mantis
Bearing a striking resemblance to an orchid, the orchid mantis can easily camouflage itself amongst the flowers.
iStock.com/phittavas
The astonishing orchid mantis is one of a group of mantids that mimic flowers. In this case, it mimics the sugar pink Phalaenopsis orchids found in the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia. It is nearly impossible to see this colorful insect when it rests among the petals of this orchid. Four of its six legs look like the orchid’s petals, which leaves the other two to grab prey, which range from butterflies to moths to flies, bees, and beetles. The rest of the body is the pale green of the orchid’s stems, though the mantis is able to change color. These beautiful insects will also eat each other. As with many other mantids, the female is much bigger than the male
Bearing a striking resemblance to an orchid, the orchid mantis can easily camouflage itself amongst the flowers.
iStock.com/phittavas
The astonishing orchid mantis is one of a group of mantids that mimic flowers. In this case, it mimics the sugar pink Phalaenopsis orchids found in the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia. It is nearly impossible to see this colorful insect when it rests among the petals of this orchid. Four of its six legs look like the orchid’s petals, which leaves the other two to grab prey, which range from butterflies to moths to flies, bees, and beetles. The rest of the body is the pale green of the orchid’s stems, though the mantis is able to change color. These beautiful insects will also eat each other. As with many other mantids, the female is much bigger than the male
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02 March 2023
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