The praying mantis belongs to the order Mantodea, which includes over 2,400 species distributed across tropical and temperate regions. Mantises are sit-and-wait hunters that use their raptorial forelegs to capture prey. A compelling aspect of their biology is the high variability of their body color, which is a powerful tool in their survival strategy.
The Range of Mantis Colors
Most mantis species display color palettes consisting of green, brown, or tan. These common hues allow them to blend seamlessly into the foliage, bark, or grasses of their habitats. For example, the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) ranges from bright green to yellowish-brown, sometimes within the same population. A single species, such as the California mantid (Stagmomantis californica), may exhibit all three primary color phases during its lifetime.
Beyond these common earth tones, some species have evolved complex coloration. The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is known for its pink and white body, which perfectly mimics a flower blossom. The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) adopts a mottled, dead-leaf appearance, often incorporating dark browns and blacks. The breadth of color suggests that the mantis’s appearance is deeply tied to its immediate ecological niche.
Coloration Strategy: Cryptic Camouflage
The primary function of the mantis’s coloration is cryptic camouflage, a strategy that serves a dual purpose. First, it acts as a defense mechanism, making the insect virtually invisible to visual predators such as birds and bats. By matching the background, the mantis avoids detection and increases its chance of survival.
Camouflage is also central to the mantis’s ambush hunting style. The mantis remains motionless until an unsuspecting insect wanders into striking distance. Many species have evolved not just color, but body shape to enhance this effect, a process known as mimicry.
The Dead Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys species) displays intricate lobes and veins that resemble decaying foliage. The Horned Praying Mantis utilizes structural features to create disruptive camouflage that breaks up its body outline. Certain flower mantises, like the Orchid Mantis, employ aggressive mimicry where their flower-like colors actively attract prey seeking nectar or pollen.
Factors Determining Mantis Color
A mantis’s final color is determined by genetics, environmental factors, and diet. Every species has a genetically determined baseline color potential, but the actual shade expressed is flexible, especially during the nymph stages. The ability to shift between green and brown morphs occurs gradually across the various molts as the insect grows, unlike the rapid change seen in chameleons.
Environmental cues, particularly relative humidity and the color of the substrate, trigger pigment production in the nymph. High humidity and green foliage encourage the production of green pigments. Conversely, hot, dry conditions and brown vegetation trigger the production of brown pigments like melanin. This leads the mantis to emerge from its molt with the color that best matches its immediate habitat.
The green coloration is often a result of combining two types of pigments: yellow-tinged carotenoids and blue-tinged bilins. Since mantises cannot synthesize carotenoids, they must obtain them from their diet. This indirectly links the vibrancy of their color to the nutritional quality of the insects they consume.