Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Hymenopodidae
Genus: Creobroter
Species: C. gemmatus
Conservation Status
The Jeweled Flower Mantis (Scientific Name: Creobroter Gemmatus) is a small to medium-sized praying mantis species, with adults reaching lengths of up to about 1.5 inches. Females tend to be slightly larger than males.
Both genders display a light green base color, which helps them blend in with the surrounding vegetation. Their bodies and legs are also adorned with brownish bands, further enhancing their camouflage. On each wing, they have two yellow eye spots with black borders, which can serve as a defense mechanism to startle predators. The inner wings, which are not always visible, have additional eye spots – one in magenta and another in deep blue.
The patterns and coloration on the body of the Jeweled Flower Mantis closely resemble those of flowering plants, enabling them to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. This adaptation is crucial for their survival, as it allows them to avoid predators and ambush prey effectively.
Like all mantises, the Jeweled Flower Mantis has two antennae, which they use for sensing their environment and detecting prey. They also have six legs, with the four rear legs primarily used for mobility, walking, and holding onto branches or leaves. The front two legs are specialized for capturing and holding prey.
The combination of their unique coloration, patterns, and physical adaptations make the Jeweled Flower Mantis a remarkable and fascinating species, both in terms of appearance and behavior.
The Jeweled Flower Mantis has a wide distribution across East, Southeast, and South Asia. Within this region, countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and China provide suitable habitats for these mantises. They thrive in areas with high humidity, which is typical of evergreen forests and subtropical or tropical forests.
These forests offer abundant flowers and shrubs, which are essential for the Jeweled Flower Mantis’s survival. The lush vegetation not only provides ideal hiding spots for these mantises to blend in and avoid predators, but it also attracts a wide variety of insects, which serve as their primary food sources.
In these environments, the Jeweled Flower Mantis can be found perched on leaves, branches, or flowers, where they patiently wait for their prey. They are known to be primarily diurnal, being most active during the day. It’s essential for their habitat to maintain adequate levels of temperature and humidity, as these factors significantly influence the mantis’s overall health and wellbeing.
In the wild, the Jeweled Flower Mantis is a skillful predator that relies on its remarkable camouflage to hunt. Its vibrant green coloring, along with other hues resembling flowers, allows it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding vegetation. This adaptation is crucial for their hunting strategy, as it enables them to remain hidden from both prey and potential predators.
The mantis typically positions itself on or near flowers, where it can take advantage of the insects attracted to the nectar. They are ambush predators, meaning they patiently wait for their prey to come within striking distance instead of actively pursuing it. Insects such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and other small arthropods make up the majority of their diet.
When an unsuspecting insect lands nearby, the Jeweled Flower Mantis swiftly uses its front two spiny legs, known as raptorial legs, to grab its prey. These legs are lined with sharp spines that help secure the prey, preventing it from escaping. Once the mantis has caught its prey, it will begin to devour it.
The Jeweled Flower Mantis’s predatory behavior is characterized by its remarkable speed and precision, allowing it to effectively capture and consume its prey. This efficient hunting strategy ensures they have a steady supply of food in their natural habitat, contributing to their overall success as a species.
As with other praying mantis species, the female jeweled flower mantis may try to kill the male after mating. Males may sneak up and hold the female’s head down for protection or try to do it after she has fed.
Males may try to sneak up on the female and restrain her head with his front legs, holding it down for protection. This prevents the female from turning around and attacking him during copulation. Another tactic is to wait until the female has recently fed, making her less likely to attack the male due to satiation.
After successfully mating, the female Jeweled Flower Mantis will produce oothecas, which are protective egg cases, over intervals of 2-7 days. Each ootheca can contain up to 50 eggs, ensuring a potentially large number of offspring. The female typically attaches these oothecas to a branch, leaf, or other suitable surface in her habitat.
Within 10-15 days, the eggs hatch, releasing tiny red nymphs. These nymphs resemble miniature versions of the adult mantis, although their size and coloring will change as they mature. To reach their adult size and develop their full range of colors, the nymphs must undergo a series of molts, typically around 8 times. With each molt, the mantis sheds its old exoskeleton and emerges slightly larger and more developed.
Throughout their life stages, from nymph to adult, the Jeweled Flower Mantis requires proper care and environmental conditions to ensure healthy growth and development.
Female Jeweled Flower Mantises generally have a longer lifespan compared to males, with both sexes typically living between 6-9 months. When kept in captivity and provided with optimal care, their lifespans can be extended even further.
Acting as natural pest control agents, Jeweled Flower Mantises play a crucial role in maintaining insect populations in tropical rainforests. By preying on various insects, they contribute to preserving the ecological balance within their habitats.
While the Jeweled Flower Mantis primarily relies on its exceptional camouflage to remain undetected and safe from predators, it also employs an alternative defensive strategy when threatened. In such situations, the mantis adopts an intimidating stance by standing tall, raising its arms, and spreading its wings to reveal the vivid hind wings. The striking magenta and blue colors on the hind wings may give the impression of being poisonous or venomous, which can deter potential predators. However, in reality, Jeweled Flower Mantises do not possess venom or poison, and their vibrant colors serve as a form of deceptive warning.
