Blepharopsis mendica facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blepharopsis mendica
B. mendica on a tyre of a car
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Mantodea
Family:	Empusidae
Subfamily:	Blepharodinae
Genus:	Blepharopsis Rehn, 1902
Species:	B. mendica
Binomial name
Blepharopsis mendica (Fabricius, 1775)
Subspecies
See text
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Synonyms
Mantis mendica Fabricius, 1775

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The Blepharopsis mendica is a special type of praying mantis. It is also known by cool names like the Egyptian flower mantis, thistle mantis, or Arab mantis. This unique insect lives in North Africa, parts of the Middle East, southern Asia, and even on the Canary Islands. It is the only species in its group, called Blepharopsis.

When this mantis feels threatened, it has a clever trick. It will turn its head and body to the side. This shows off the bright colors on the inside of its front legs and the underside of its back wings. It also spreads its wings a little. This makes the mantis look much bigger and scarier to anything that might want to eat it! This special move is called a deimatic display.

Where Does the Devil Flower Mantis Live?

The Devil Flower Mantis can be found in many countries. Its home range includes places like Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya in North Africa. It also lives across the Middle East in countries like Israel, Jordan, Oman, and Iran. You can find it in parts of Asia too, such as Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. It even lives on the Canary Islands!

What Kind of Places Do They Like?

These mantises love to live in areas with lots of plants. They prefer places with leafy plants and spiny bushes. Their body colors are perfect for blending in. They can look just like leaves, dry bushes, or other plants in the desert. This helps them hide from predators and sneak up on their prey.

See also

In Spanish: Blepharopsis mendica para niños

• Flower mantis