Orchid mantis

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The Orchid Mantis is an rare insect that can be found only on white flowers. Hard to spot due to its camoflauge, many Players only notice it after scaring it off. When disturbed, it flies away into the air with a buzzing noise. It is slightly similar to the mantis in appearance, and is found more frequently in sunny weather. When approached, the orchid mantis will raise its head in defence, making it easier to spot. It sells for 2,400 bells, a high price for a bug.

Donating to the Museum
Like other insects in the, the orchid mantis can be donated to the Museum in both games, followed by Blathers giving a description.

In Wild World
Blathers speaks about the Orchid Mantis' camoflage:

"Ah, the orchid mantis fools other insects by looking like a flower, eh wot? Bugs approach for nectar... CHOMP! The mantis attacks! It shan't fool me, though! Just look at it! Can't you see the antennae twitching? Blech! Duplicitous wretch!"

It can be found on the white flower above the entrance to the bug exhibit.

In City Folk
Blathers, the curator of the museum, talks of his own experiences with an orchid mantis:

"The orchid mantis has the awful habit of disquising itself as a flower in order to avoid its enemies. ...I say "awful" because of how revolting it is to touch a flower and feel the belly of a mantis! Oh, it was so soft and vile! Blech! The memories! I try to suppress them, but they always come flooding back!"

The orchid mantis is found on the central white pansy, amongst the butterflies, on the lower tier of the insect room.

Encyclopedia Information
In Wild World and City Folk, players can access information about fish and insects in the menu. Regarding the Orchid Mantis:

Further Information
Found in the rainforests of South-East Asian islands such as Malaysia and Indonesia, the orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is found primarily on orchids, a flower on which this species of mantis has evolved to replicate. Being primarily carnivorous, they eat most things that happen to pass by, their victims ignorant that they are even present, due to their camoflauge. Prey includes lizards, bees and butterflies. Orchid mantids have also been observed nibbling on banana, likely to add vitamins to their diet.

As with other species of mantis, orchid mantids go into a frenzy when touched or lifted.