09/24/2025
Saved one of my favorite photos for last from this shoot. Here is a beautiful Orchid Mantis at Wonderful place to visit and even photograph these beautiful creatures. Hope to return again and continue the world of macro and these amazing animals.
Orchid mantises exhibit significant size differences between males and females. Adult females typically grow to be about 2.5 to 3 inches long, while adult males are considerably smaller, reaching only about 1 inch.
Hymenopus coronatus is a mantis from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is known by various common names, including walking flower mantis, orchid-blossom mantis and (pink) orchid mantis. It is one of several species known as flower mantis, a reference to their unique physical form and behaviour, which often involves moving with a “swaying” motion, as if being “blown” in the breeze. Several species have evolved to mimic orchid flowers as a hunting and camouflaging strategy, “hiding” themselves in plain view and preying upon pollinating insects that visit the blooms. They are known to grab their prey with blinding speed.
This species mimics parts of the orchid flower. The four walking legs resemble flower petals, and the toothed front pair is used as in other mantises for grasping prey.
