Like many insect species, the male and female orchid praying mantises of Southeast Asia have evolved to look remarkably different from one another. The male is small and brown, while the female resembles the orchid blossoms they inhabit. This camouflage helps females attract insects as prey, while males evade attention when searching for a mate.
This species' development has produced a particularly exceptional female specimen. Female orchid mantises have mastered the art of disguise. Their limbs are shaped like flowers and have stunning pink and yellow colors. With bodies that resemble fully developed orchids, they are often mistaken for the genuine thing and may even attract insects more effectively than the blooms they copy. This is despite the fact that orchid mantis females do not resemble any particular orchid species, but rather a general set of orchid-like characteristics.
