Snippets from Science

A unique kind of mantis lives in Southern Asia, one that depends on orchids for its food supply. The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus corrnatus) is a beautiful pink and white creature with flattened hind legs that look like petals of a flower – specifically, an orchid flower. The mantis crawls up the stem of a plant, settles down on a flower, and waits. When another insect drops by to sample orchid pollen or nectar, in a flash the mantis grabs the prey with its spiny front legs and devours it. A human looking at the orchid flower is unlikely to see the mantis hiding in plain sight, waiting on its next meal. This is a rare instance of an insect mimicking a flower to attract prey. (Sources: voices.nationalgeographic.com; arstechnica.com/science; livescience.com/41605)