Creobroter
Encyclopedia
Creobroter or Flower Mantis
es is a genus
of mantis
concentrated in Western Asia. The name comes from the Greek "kreas" (combining form
"kreo-", meaning "flesh"), and "broter" (eating); therefore, "flesh-eating", an apt name for a predatory insect. Both sexes have long wing
s and are capable fliers. Full-grown males are about 3 to 4 cm in length, females about 4 to 5 cm.
As the common name
indicates, Creobroter are known for having varicolored (yellow, white, red, brown, etc.) markings which serve as camouflage
by hiding the creatures' actual shape and making them look somewhat like flower
s when hiding amidst green foliage.
The resemblance to flowers may be greater in sub-adult Creobroter than those that are fully grown. In any case, this flower-mimicry is less extreme than that of the orchid mantis, but is attractive enough to make Creobroter favored by people who raise exotic insects as pets, especially as Creobroter species
are more common and a bit less delicate than the more flower-like Hymenopus.
In the case of some Creobroter (such as the C. gemmatus shown at the left) these markings also serve as eyespots when the mantis spreads its wings in a threat display.
Rather than resembling foliage or flowers, some species of Creobroter resemble ant
s during the their early nymph
stages. Ant mimicry
is a useful defense against predation
for the young Creobroter as most ants are relatively unpalatable and aggressive making insect predators that rely on vision to identify their prey, such as bird
s and wasp
s, avoid them.
Around their third ecdysis
, Creobroter trade their ant-mimicking dark, shiny appearance for the green and light-colored markings that make their outline so difficult to discern amidst vegetation.
Flower Mantis
Flower Mantis is a common name given to various species of praying mantis that mimic flowers including:*Acromantis formosana *Blepharopsis mendica...
es is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of mantis
Mantis
Mantis is the common name of any insect in the order Mantodea, also commonly known as praying mantises. The word itself means "prophet" in Latin and Greek...
concentrated in Western Asia. The name comes from the Greek "kreas" (combining form
"kreo-", meaning "flesh"), and "broter" (eating); therefore, "flesh-eating", an apt name for a predatory insect. Both sexes have long wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
s and are capable fliers. Full-grown males are about 3 to 4 cm in length, females about 4 to 5 cm.
Camouflage and mimicry
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
indicates, Creobroter are known for having varicolored (yellow, white, red, brown, etc.) markings which serve as camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
by hiding the creatures' actual shape and making them look somewhat like flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s when hiding amidst green foliage.
The resemblance to flowers may be greater in sub-adult Creobroter than those that are fully grown. In any case, this flower-mimicry is less extreme than that of the orchid mantis, but is attractive enough to make Creobroter favored by people who raise exotic insects as pets, especially as Creobroter species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are more common and a bit less delicate than the more flower-like Hymenopus.
In the case of some Creobroter (such as the C. gemmatus shown at the left) these markings also serve as eyespots when the mantis spreads its wings in a threat display.
Rather than resembling foliage or flowers, some species of Creobroter resemble ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s during the their early nymph
Nymph (biology)
In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
stages. Ant mimicry
Ant mimicry
Ant mimicry is mimicry of ants by other organisms. Ants are abundant all over the world, and insect predators that rely on vision to identify their prey such as birds and wasps normally avoid them, either because they are unpalatable, or aggressive. Thus some other arthropods mimic ants to escape...
is a useful defense against predation
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
for the young Creobroter as most ants are relatively unpalatable and aggressive making insect predators that rely on vision to identify their prey, such as bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s and wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
s, avoid them.
Around their third ecdysis
Ecdysis
Ecdysis is the moulting of the cuticula in many invertebrates. This process of moulting is the defining feature of the clade Ecdysozoa, comprising the arthropods, nematodes, velvet worms, horsehair worms, rotifers, tardigrades and Cephalorhyncha...
, Creobroter trade their ant-mimicking dark, shiny appearance for the green and light-colored markings that make their outline so difficult to discern amidst vegetation.
Species
There are just over twenty species of Creobroter described including the following:- C. elongatusCreobroter elongatusCreobroter elongatus is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
(Beier, 1929) - C. fasciatusCreobroter fasciatusCreobroter fasciatus is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
(Werner, 1927) - C. gemmatusCreobroter gemmatusCreobroter gemmatus, common name Jeweled Flower Mantis or Indian Flower Mantis, is a species of praying mantis native to Asia. Males grow to about 1.5 inches and females are slightly larger. They prefer a humid environment and live about nine months in captivity. Females can be cannibalistic but...
(Stoll, 1813) - C. medanusCreobroter medanusCreobroter medanus is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
(Giglio-Tos, 1915) - C. meleagrisCreobroter meleagrisCreobroter meleagris is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
- C. nebulosusCreobroter nebulosusCreobroter nebulosus is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
(Zheng, 1988) - C. pictipennisCreobroter pictipennisCreobroter pictipennis, common name Indian Flower Mantis, is a species of praying mantis native to Asia. Males grow to about 1.5 inches and females are slightly larger. They prefer a humid environment and live about nine months in captivity....
(Wood-Mason, 1878) - C. urbanusCreobroter urbanusCreobroter urbanus is a species of praying mantis in the genus Creobroter in the order Mantodea....
(Fabricus, 1775)