For decades scientists assumed these insects looked so much like orchids as a form of camouflage. But they were wrong. They look this way because they're deceptive predators.

A mantis shrimp's punch creates high-energy waves. Its exoskeleton is designed to absorb that energy, preventing cracking and tissue damage.

Sometimes the mimicry is not visual but auditory, as in some harmless flies that emit a sound just like the buzzing of an angry bee or wasp ... its prey. The praying mantis that has evolved ...

These critters get their name from their kaleidoscope shell—like a peacock’s tail—and their hinged forearms which resemble that of a praying mantis and are kept tucked away until the moment ...

Researchers exploring Brazil’s Atlantic Forest discovered some five to seven new species of praying mantises. Among the newfound creatures are unicorn mantises, which have mysterious ...

I write about the world of biology. At first glance, the mantis shrimp is an unassuming crustacean that spends its days scuttling along the seafloor. But don’t let their small size fool you into ...

Siblings walking along the coast of the Isle of Wight found an “elusive” predator, a mantis shrimp, “tangled in seagrass.” Google Street View August 2024 ...

For decades, scientists assumed the orchid mantis mimicked the orchid flower as a form of camouflage to protect itself from predators. Turns out that wasn't quite the case. Superstar/Shutterstock ...