A flower can be a dangerous place to land if a spiny flower mantis is waiting on it.

This small predator resembles the blooms around it, helping it stay unnoticed until another insect comes within reach. Now it has attracted attention of a different kind: the spiny flower mantis has won the inaugural Mzansi Insect of the Year competition, organised by the Entomological Society of Southern Africa and News24. 

A Disguise That Helps It Hunt

Known scientifically as Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii, the species is native to southern and eastern Africa.

Its camouflage involves more than colour. Projections and spines break up its body outline, helping it blend into its surroundings. Among flowers, the insect’s shape becomes part of the disguise.

It waits for prey to approach, then strikes. Despite its delicate appearance, it hunts other insects.

The “Eyes” on Its Wings Cannot See

When hiding is not enough, an adult spiny flower mantis can spread its wings to reveal large, swirling eyespots.

These are markings, not extra organs of sight. Their sudden appearance makes the mantis look larger and more threatening to a potential predator, according to London’s Natural History Museum.

The patterns are particularly distinctive because they resemble the number 9. A creature blending into a plant can suddenly appear as a much bigger animal staring back.

Even the Youngsters Have a Defensive Display

Young mantises, called nymphs, lack the adult wings needed for that display.

But they have another feature: a single eyespot on the upper side of the abdomen. The adult’s familiar wing markings are therefore only one stage of this insect’s defensive appearance.

The species grows to roughly four centimetres long. Its dramatic display packs a lot into a small body.

A Public Vote for a Small Predator

The competition invited nominations for insects found in South Africa, and a panel selected ten finalists before the public voted.

The mantis’s title reflects that competition’s result. It puts an often-overlooked animal in the spotlight, with its camouflage and defensive markings offering plenty to discover beyond the award.

The Bottom Line

A closer look at a flower may reveal more than petals. If you spot a mantis, watch without disturbing it: its ability to remain unnoticed is part of how it hunts and stays alive.