Idolomantis
| Devil's flower mantis Idolomantis diabolica |
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| Idolomantis diabolica adult male (dorsal) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Empusidae |
| Subfamily: | Blepharodinae |
| Genus: |
Idolomantis Uvarov, 1940 |
| Species: | I. diabolica |
| Binomial name | |
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Idolomantis diabolica (Saussure, 1869) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Idolomantis diabolica, commonly known as the devil's flower mantis or giant devil's flower mantis, is one of the largest species of praying mantis, possibly the largest that mimics flowers. It is the only species classified under the genus Idolomantis.
Idolomantis diabolica is a large mantis of the family Empusidae. Females grow to be about 13 centimetres (about 5 inches) in length and males to about 10 centimetres (about 4 inches). They are native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. Its threat display is magnificently colored, with red, white, blue, purple and black.
The anatomical structure of Idolomantis diabolica is almost identical to species of the mantodea order, however, the morphology of each species varies according to the native habitat.
The head of Idolomantis diabolica contains three vital components: compound eyes, antennas, and mandibles. The compound eyes, composed of thousands of individual photoreceptor cells, facilitates sight. The photoreceptor units, for instance, allows the insect to capture a perceptual span of 180 degrees. This allows Idolomantis diabolica to identify prey and predators without hindering its vulnerability. The antennae, a pair of long and thin bristles, serve as the insect's sensory perception. Projecting outwards, the antennae can detect much in the surrounding environment such as chemicals, movement, and odors. The male antennae are more developed than those of the females and are feather-like. This allows them to track down females by analysing the pheromones released by the females. These pheromones notify the males that the females are ready to reproduce. The mandibles, denoted as the "jaws" of an insect, act as a food processor. For example, the mandibles can be used to "tear, puncture, or grind" food.
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Wikipedia