Orchid Mantis

by Danté Fenolio

Title

Orchid Mantis

Artist

Danté Fenolio

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

The Malaysian Orchid Mantis, Hymenopus coronatus, inhabits rainforests of southeast Asia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. They have a color and body plan designed to blend them in with the flowers they typically live on. This small predator sits in wait within a flower, sometimes an orchid flower, for a small insect to approach. They grab potential pray items with their grappling arms equipped with long spines. The spines hold onto prey items and make prey handling an easier prospect. This specimen was photographed in Thailand, 2011.

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June 12th, 2013

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