Flower mantis - one of popular types of praying mantis

Top 14 Gorgeous Flower Mantis Types You Cannot Miss

Flower mantises, a type of mantis insect, are truly remarkable creatures with their beauty and exceptional camouflage skills. Here are 14 popular flower mantis types that mimic plants and flowers you may know. If you’re intrigued by the mesmerizing lifecycle of a flower praying mantis, you can read more here.

Orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)

The first flower mantis on our list is the orchid mantis. This species is also known by several different names like orchid-blossom mantid, lotus mantis, or walking flower mantis. It stands out as one of the most stunning among flower mantis types, boasting vibrant pink or white coloration. With this appearance, the mantis can easily camouflage into the petals of an orchid flower.

Orchid mantis is one of the flower mantis types
The pink praying mantis that look like a flower

There are 2 things that make the orchid praying mantis different from other flower mantis types. Firstly, akin to a chameleon, it possesses the remarkable ability to alter its coloration from pink to brown, perfectly matching its surroundings. Secondly, the pink orchid mantis can fly, with the males being better than the females.

This pink mantis primarily lives in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. It’s often found in the lush rainforests, where it thrives amidst the tropical foliage.

Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii)

Listing the best gorgeous flower mantis types, the spiny flower mantis is the one you cannot miss. This species showcases a stunning array of vibrant colors, ranging from shades of green, and yellow to striking hues of pink, purple, and orange. Its slender body is adorned with intricate patterns, accentuated by delicate lines. On its front wings, there are eyespots with a combination of black, white, green, and yellow colors.

Spiny flower praying mantis
P. wahlbergii (spiny flower praying mantis) is one of the popular types of praying mantis flower

What sets this beautiful praying mantis apart are the distinctive spiny protrusions that line its abdomen and thorax, resembling thorns or spikes. These spines not only enhance its camouflage among foliage but also serve as a deterrent to potential predators.

Found predominantly in subtropical regions of Africa, such as South Africa and Zimbabwe, the spiny flower mantis inhabits a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, and gardens.

African false flower mantis (Harpagomantis tricolor)

The next one is the African false flower mantis. As its scientific name suggests, this flower mantis type has 3 colors. It can be yellow, brown, and green or green, brown, and white. It has a size of about 3 cm in length. This insect is found in Southern Africa.

Source: iNaturalist

Jeweled flower mantis (Creobroter gemmatus)

Jeweled flower mantis is one of the most stunning flower mantis types you can find in Asia. This species is often mistaken with the spiny mantis due to its beautiful appearance. However, these insects are quite different.

The jeweled mantis doesn’t have spines along its thorax. Its front wings are green with a hint of brown tone. The patterns on its front wings are not the 9 or 6 pattern. Instead, they are the 2 yellow oval with 2 black dots on it. Its back wings are pink and blue cobalt, with the transparent at the tip.

A white praying mantis

Found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including countries like India, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, this colorful praying mantis lives in a variety of habitats. It typically inhabits lush forests, grasslands, and gardens where flowering plants are abundant. If you’re interested in this insect, you can read our Jeweled flower mantis article to know more.

Gambian spotted-eye flower mantis (Pseudoharpax virescens)

Compared to other flower mantis types, this species is less colorful with a white body. Its front wings showcase a verdant hue with translucent light-green tips, while its rear wings display a regal purple tint with transparent ends. The male has a size of about 2.5 cm in length while the female is a little bit longer at 2.8 cm. Adult females have two eye spots on the upper side of their abdomen.

What truly sets the Gambian spotted-eye flower mantis apart is its remarkable ability to change eye color from night to day. At night, their eyes turn dark red, while during the day, they become light green.

This flower praying mantis inhabits in the West, East, and Central Africa. It’s typically found amidst dense foliage and vegetation, where it can readily camouflage itself among the vibrant flora, awaiting unsuspecting prey with stealth and precision.

Giant devil’s flower mantis (Idolomantis diabolica)

This flower mantis species is an awe-inspiring insect characterized by its large size and intricate appearance. The female can reach the size of about 13 cm in length while the male is smaller, about 10 cm. With this size, the mantis is one of the biggest praying mantis types. Its back displays a mesmerizing blend of various shades of green, while its front showcases a stunning array of colors, including green, brown, blue, purple, and red. The wings of this species are transparent with a hint of green tint. Notably, the subadults of this species adopt a brown coloration, allowing them to seamlessly blend into their surroundings, often resembling dried or dead leaves.

An adult giant devil's flower praying mantis, one of praying mantis varieties

You can find this big praying mantis in the forests of Africa, particularly in countries like Tanzania and Kenya. It lives among dense vegetation where it can blend seamlessly with its surroundings. To know more interesting facts about this devil’s flower mantis, you can check here.

Wandering violin mantis (Gongylus gongylodes)

The wandering violin mantis has a slender body adorned in exquisite shades of brown and green. It also comes with slender limbs and bog appendages. As the name suggests, this flower mantis type owns an elongated thorax and abdomen, resembling the graceful curves of a violin. With this appearance, this mantis exhibits remarkable mimicry, resembling a dried leaf or twig in their natural habitat. To make itself look like a real deal, it even moves its body from side to side, mimicking the movement of a stick blowing in the wind.

The insect measures about 11 cm. Like the orchid mantis, this flower mantis can fly. However, this ability is only presented in the males.

The violin mantis is found in South Asia, including countries like India and Sri Lanka. It’s also called by different names like Indian rose mantis or ornate mantis.

Yellow flower mantis (Helvia cardinalis)

As the name suggests, this flower mantis type has a vibrant yellow coloration, from its wings to its body and legs. This helps the insect blend seamlessly with the petals of various flowers. However, it also comes with different shades of green variations. The female is about 3.8 cm with 3 black dots on each front wing. The back wings of this species are white with transparent tips.

This yellow mantis can be found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in Southeast Asia. It lives in lush vegetation and dense foliage like gardens, forests, and meadows rich in floral diversity.

Indian flower mantis (Creobroter pictipennis)

This mantis looks similar to the jeweled flower mantis. However, it spots a more vivid green color, including its legs. Its front wings are green with no hint of brown color. Its back wings showcase a striking combination of purple and dark brown, with light-green transparent tips. This insect also lives in  South and Southeast Asia.

A praying mantis on flower

Banded flower mantis (Theopropus elegans)

The next flower praying mantis type on our list is the banded flower mantis. This species exhibits a remarkable blend of green and brown tones, intricately patterned to resemble the texture of tree bark. It has a green striped body as well as green forewings with light spots and bands. Its rear wings are orange with light orange transparent tips. Like other praying mantis, the female of this species is bigger than the male with the size of about 5 cm. The male is 3 cm. This insect is found primarily in Southeast Asia countries.

African flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra ocellata)

This African mantis is also called spiny flower mantis. This type and the P. wahlbergii belong to the same genus – Pseudocreobotra. In fact, these two species bear a striking resemblance to each other. Both feature a spiny body, exhibit similar coloring, and sport an eyespot on their front wings. It’s really hard to differentiate between them. It’s found in the South, West, and Central Africa.

Thistle flower mantis (Blepharopsis mendica)

The thistle flower mantis, aka Arab mantis or Egyptian flower mantis, has elegance in its design. Its coloration varies from shades of green to brown. The inner of its forelegs can have a hint of blue and black colors. Its front wings come with complex and beautiful patterns resembling thistle flowers. That’s why it’s called thistle flower mantis.

Found predominantly in arid regions of North Africa and the Canary Island, this mantis lives amidst grassy areas and bushes with thorns.

Taiwan flower mantis (Acromantis formosana)

Standing at the 12th position is the Taiwan flower mantis. This type of mantis has a brown body with green wings. Its nymphs are also brown but with a darker tone, with flanged and spined bodies. With these colors, the insect can easily blend into its environment, among dead leaves.

Taiwanese flower praying mantis

You can find these mantises mainly in the lush forests and tropical areas of Taiwan, where they thrive among the abundant plant life.

Negerian flower mantis (Chloroharpax modesta)

Last but not least – the Nigerian flower mantis. This species boasts a slender and elongated body adorned with green color. On each of its front wings, there is a yellow eyespot with a black border. However, this feature is only presented in females. Unlike most of praying mantis species, the Negerian flower mantis has round eyes with a blue coloration. The insect is found primarily in the forests and grasslands of Nigeria, as well as other regions of West Africa.

Negerian flower mantis

Those are 14 different types of flower mantises. From the delicate pink hues of the orchid mantis to the vibrant green camouflage of the thistle flower mantis to the colorful jeweled mantis, each species showcases its own unique blend of beauty and survival strategy. So, which flower praying mantis species is your favorite one?

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Animal Facts 276

We are passionate animal enthusiasts with over a decade of experience studying animals. With a degree in zoology and conservation biology, we've contributed to various research and conservation projects. We're excited to bring you engaging content that highlights the wonders of the animal kingdom. We aim to inspire others to appreciate and protect wildlife through informative content grounded in expertise and passion. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of animals and discover the incredible stories they have to tell.

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