There is no shortage of creepy crawlies to be found in our gardens. Most of the time we avoid them or barely give them much thought. However, there are some pretty impressive insects wandering around this great planet of ours, and not all of them are as scary as we might think. While most of us shudder at the sight or even thought of the freaky praying mantis, the mantis family has some pretty cousins out there. Although mantises are infamous for the murderous females that unceremoniously eat the heads of their mates, their pretty South African cousin the Flower Mantis is a lovely sight to behold. Just ask Margaret Neville. (1)

A Visit From The Flower Mantis

The lovely Flower Mantis made an appearance in a patch of lavender in Margaret Neville’s garden. Margaret almost missed the little creature, thanks to its natural camouflage of flowery, delicate legs and classic camou wings. Once she spotted her fashionable guest she shot video of the insect, naming her “Miss Frilly Pants” on her social media post. (1)

Camouflage Of Flower Mantis

The nickname is perfectly suited to this lacy insect whose sense of fashion outdoes other mantis species. Flower Mantis’ camouflage is unique to the female who sits in wait for her next meal hidden among the flowers. While nature tends to favor males in the animal kingdom in the looks department, the female is the true beauty of the Flower Mantis sexes. The male is plain and depends on the hunt to catch their victims. They are also smaller than the females. Considering the distinctly ladylike look of the frilly pantaloons, I’m sure the male is happy to don his humble attire. (1,2)

Gender Differences In Flower Mantis

According to experts the gender differences in this variety of mantis is common in insects and spiders, but a rarity in most other species. (2)

In the case of the Flower Mantis, evolution provided the female with a way to attract prey commonly frequenting flowers. Research shows that females hunt pollinating insects using their camouflage. As well, because they are larger, they can eat larger prey. Meanwhile, males remain drab in greens and browns, to make it easier to find a mate. (2)

“We think the males remain small because they need to move around the environment to find females and mate,” says Gavin Svenson of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “If you look like a giant conspicuous flower and you’re actively moving around, you give yourself away.” (2)

Flower Mantis Rare Evolution

According to Svenson and the team, the Flower Mantis evolved in a vastly different way than other arthropods. Although this group of insects and spiders might see common differences between males and females such as size and coloring, the evolution of the Flower Mantis is unique.  The female adopted a different feeding method then the males, leading to the flowery legs and camouflage she shows off today. (2)

As scary as the feeding habits of Miss Frilly Pants and her sisters might be, they post no threat to humans.