Description

Blepharopsis mendica (Thistle Mantis, Lesser Devils Flower Mantis) for sale

Blepharopsis mendica is a species of praying mantis found in North Africa, parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and southern Asia, and on the Canary Islands. Devil’s flower mantis, Egyptian flower mantis, thistle mantis, and Arab mantis are among its common names.

In deimatic display, the adult rotates its head and thorax to one side, displaying the bright colours on the insides of its forelegs and the undersides of its hindwings, and holds its wings slightly spread behind the body, making it seem large and threatening.

This species lives in terrestrial areas like herbaceous vegetation and spiny bushes. Their colour makes them well suited for mimicry of leaves, spiny or dry bushes, and vegetation in deserts due to their coloration.

The Thistle Mantis, or more specifically Blepharopsis mendica is a beautiful species of praying mantis from North Africa and the Canary Islands. This species is sometimes also called Small Devil’s Flower Mantis, but this could be confused with Devils Flower Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) so should not be used.

Blepharopsis mendica is a quiet species of praying mantis. They are good at catching flying insects. Relying on its camouflage it waits patiently until an unsuspecting prey comes along. This species is not very aggressive and can be intimidate by large prey. Blepharopsis mendica can show a deimatic display in which it will raise its wings and hold its forearms in a sideways way. In this posture the mantis looks very big and the bright colours on the inside of the forearms is visible. This is meant to scare away predators.

subfamily Blepharodinae
genus Blepharopsis Rehn, 1902
species mendica (Fabricius, 1775)