Thistle Mantis

Blepharopsis mendica · Order: Mantodea · Family: Empusidae

Also called: Arab Mantis, Devil's Flower Mantis, Egyptian Flower Mantis, Striped mantis

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Thistle Mantis
Photo: Juan Emilio from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España, CC BY-SA 2.0

The adult thistle mantis can turn its head and thorax to show bright colours on its forelegs and hindwing undersides in a threat display. It lives among herbaceous plants and spiny bushes, where its colour helps it blend with leaves and dry desert vegetation. Its native range includes North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, southern Asia and the Canary Islands, covering many countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Iran, India and Turkey.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It inhabits terrestrial areas with herbaceous vegetation and spiny bushes. Its coloration provides camouflage that mimics leaves, spiny or dry desert plants.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

The species is native to North Africa, parts of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and southern Asia, as well as the Canary Islands.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Thistle Mantis photo 3
Photo: MathKnight and Zachi Evenor, CC BY-SA
Thistle Mantis photo 4
Photo: Juan Emilio from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España, CC BY-SA 2.0
Thistle Mantis photo 5
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0
Thistle Mantis photo 6
Photo: Juan Emilio from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España, CC BY-SA 2.0

Same family (Empusidae)

Mediterranean Conehead MantisMediterranean Conehead MantisEmpusa pennataFasciated Conehead MantidFasciated Conehead MantidEmpusa fasciataWandering Violin MantisWandering Violin MantisGongylus gongylodes

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharopsis

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.

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