A Much Mossier Mantis
Because of its minuscule size, this moss mantis can’t rely on the flashy, threatening displays that some larger species rely on for protection. Instead, the moss mantis invests most of its efforts into blending in rather than into intimidation.
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DownloadA Much Mossier Mantis
Because of its minuscule size, this moss mantis can’t rely on the flashy, threatening displays that some larger species rely on for protection. Instead, the moss mantis invests most of its efforts into blending in rather than into intimidation.
What am I looking at?
This is a moss mantis (a member of the genus Haania), a nymph at the stage of development before it becomes a winged adult. You can see its head (1); its clawed front legs (2); and the moss-colored, serrated flanges lining its back and sides (3).
Biology in the background
These mantises live on the island of Borneo. They are camouflage experts, blending in with the ever-present moss in their rainforest home. They use this camouflage to hide from predators but also to hunt; they are ambush hunters who prey on smaller insects that wander within striking distance.
These mantises can grow up to 25 millimeters long, or slightly longer than a human thumbnail.
Technique
These images were created using macrophotography.
TagsIgor Siwanowicz, HHMI's Janelia Research Campus