Plant or predator? - PHOTO

You would be forgiven for thinking this insect is an innocent orchid flower.The creature, complete with legs that look like petals, has evolved to mimic orchids in both shape and colour.Scientists have now confirmed that the hunter not only uses its bizarre appearance to hide from prey, but also to attract victims.The Australian researchers even claim that the creature is more attractive to insects than the real flower.Their bright floral colours and petal shaped legs create a tantalising lure for insects,’ said James O’Hanlon from Macquarie University.‘So it seems that orchid mantises not only look like flowers but also beat flowers at their own game.’Scientists have believed the orchid mantis behaves in this way since the 1800s after it was suggested by naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.However, this concept had never been confirmed, largely because of how rare it is in its native habitat, the rainforests of Southeast Asia.It full flowery disguise was convincing enough for scientists to suggest this hunter not only uses the masquerade to hide from prey, but also to attract other insects.Professor O’Hanlon and Marie Herberstein from Macquarie University, along with Gregory Holwell from the University of Auckland mounted an expedition to Malaysia to test this theory.They found that the body of the creature was attractive to flying insects, demonstrating how its flower-like appearance has evolved to lure in unsuspecting pollinators searching for nectar in flowers.‘What really surprised us was the fact that the orchid mantises were even more successful at attracting pollinators than real flowers,’ said O’Hanlon.‘After more than a century of conjecture we provide the first experimental evidence of pollinator deception in the orchid mantis and the first description of a unique predatory strategy that has not been documented in any other animal species.’Researchers saw more than a dozen instances of flying insects getting close enough to orchid mantises for the hunters to grab the prey out of the air.This is the only animal in the world scientists know of that resembles a flower blossom to attract prey.The scientists now hope to conduct further research that will analyse how predators view orchid mantises.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az