Mantis orchid - an insect that looks like a flower

A huge number of cases of mimicry are known in nature: some are masked for protection, the second - in order to sneak up on their victim. Thus, an insect that resembles a leaf, looks like a butterfly that hides itself, or a mantis that waits for its prey. But there is an insect that strikes with its appearance and leaves few people indifferent - it is an orchid mantis. And as the name suggests, it very much resembles one of the most beautiful flowers - an orchid.

Description of appearance and lifestyle

Orchid mantis (Latin Hymenopus coronatus) is an insect that can be found in Indonesia and Malaysia. In order for them to feel good, they need high humidity in the range of 80-90%. So the climate of these countries is ideal for them.

Unlike their brethren, the mantis orchid mantis is a unique predator. After all, he, who is sitting in an ambush, does not need flowers, he himself mimics in a flower and waits for the victim herself to fly to him to pollinate such beauty. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish, so similar a flower and an orchid mantis, a photo to that confirmation.

How does the mantis mantis look? Its description is: the main color is white, which can be combined with different shades, from pink to bright violet. And the shade depends on the color of the orchid flowers surrounding the mantis. And it only becomes similar in color and shape, becoming invisible to flying around insects - bees, butterflies, moths and dragonflies, flies and bees. Zoologists indicate about 13 species of orchids, which the insect can mimic.

The female is much larger in size than the male. The dimensions are 7-8 cm and 3-4, respectively. Significant difference.

By its nature it is a very aggressive insect, and is ready to eat everything that moves next to it. And it is not frightened by opponents who exceed the mantis in size by more than two times.

Features of reproduction

Within seven days the female mantis is ready to mate. The male takes off, gets on the female, and they mate. Unlike the usual mantis, a female orchid does not eat up her partner, since the male is too small for her and small in size.

Postpone after fertilization, the female may have from 3 to 5 special bags, of which 40-70 larvae from each will subsequently appear. Nymphs (namely, the so-called larvae) are painted red or black and resemble the appearance of poisonous insects in those places, so that predators are not afraid of them.

Development after fertilization

Samochke after contact with the male need from several days to several weeks of time, in order to lay pouches with eggs. They are painted white and are 3-5 cm. Egg ripening requires high humidity and a temperature of 30 ° C.

Newborns are painted black or red, after the first molt, it becomes white, and then pink (during the next molt).

Content in captivity

It is not easy for captive mantis to be orchid, care for it is complicated and only by the person who already has experience in keeping insects in the terrarium. But the game is worth the candle.

In the terrarium, where the mantis contains an orchid mantle, the humidity should be constantly at 90%, otherwise the insects will quickly die. Temperature regime: in the daytime - 25-30 ° C, at night - 20 ° C. The terrarium is necessarily decorated with an orchid, real or artificial, although another large flower is suitable.

If you plan not only to maintain these beauties, but also to cultivate them, then the males should be kept separate from the females at a lower temperature and they should be fed less. This is due to their faster puberty. Males simply may not live up to the willingness of the female to mate.

Before you connect a couple in the terrarium, properly feed the female (is it not enough, suddenly the bride will have an appetite and she will simply eat the groom) and just do not bother them. During the mating season, continue to feed the mantises. If the pairing does not happen, then it's not time to go, just set the female off for a few days and try again. Of course, you can try to help the male by planting it on the back of the female, but this task is not easy because of the small size of the males and their elusiveness.

After fertilization, continue to maintain the humidity and temperature, and after a while you will rejoice in the appearance of healthy offspring. After all, mantis orchids, unfortunately, do not live long.