Devil’s Flower Mantis

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Devils Flower Mantis Facts

• Firstly, the amazing Devil’s Flower Mantis remains one of the largest of all the roughly 2,400 known praying mantis varieties.
• Also, of those mantises that mimic flowers, this rather impressive species actually represents the largest known.
• In addition, the remarkable and relatively large insect is the only species classified under the genus Idolomantis. 
• Rather sadly, its very distinctiveness makes it extremely popular in the exotic pet industry, especially in the Western Hemisphere.
• However, the IUCN does not have a listing for it at this time, as its numbers appear stable in the wild, for the moment.

Related Species

                              

Carolina Mantis                  Ghost Mantis                 Chinese Mantis

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Devil’s Flower Mantis Physical Description

Firstly, it should be noted that the magnificent Devils Flower Mantis, like many related species, displays sexual dimorphism.

For example, the larger females can grow to about 5 in (13 cm) in length. However, the smaller males only reach a length of about 4 in (10 cm).  

In color, the insect typically shows either a rather dull light brown, or combinations of green shades, depending on location, for camouflage.

However, when threatened, it opens its wings, which show combinations of white, red, purple, blue, and black colors.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Mantodea

Family: Empusidae

Genus: Idolomantis

Species: I. diabolica

Devil’s Flower Mantis Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The stunning and amazing Devils Flower Mantis also evolved as native to Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, in Africa.

Like other mantises, it also feeds strictly as a carnivore. In addition, this particular species usually prefers airborne insects.

This usually consists principally of various species of moths, flies, beetles, and butterflies, native to its particular region.

As with most other species of mantis, the practice of sexual cannibalism also remains prominent among this species.

After mating, the females deposit eggs in an ootheca which typically will hold up to 50 nymphs.

Species Sharing Its Range

                            

   Devils Claw                      Boomslang                Somersaulting Spider

Check out our other articles on Orchid Mantis, Brown Mantis, Krubera Cave, Arizona Unicorn Mantis, Erta Ale