Not everything is quite as it first appears in the natural world. Look closely and you’ll see a whole host of plants and animals trying to disguise themselves as something else entirely.
Whether it be flowers, insects, or sea creatures, natural mimics seek to gain an advantage over the competition – often to avoid being eaten or help them find their next meal. Prime examples of this camouflage approach are several insects which blend in to their environment.
Orchid Mantis
The beautiful orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) lives in the rain forests Malaysia and Indonesia. Hanging around on orchid, papaya and frangipani trees, the mantis gradually assumes the colouration of the flower it lives on (pink in this case), with petal-shaped legs completing the deception.
The tiny carnivore has a voracious appetite, eating everything from fruit flies and moths to small lizards and bees, which usually don’t realise the ‘flower’ is alive and hungry until too late. Its highly effective camouflage also helps it to avoid detection by predators such as birds, geckos and spiders.
Planthopper
Planthoppers are an order of insects from the Fulgoroidea family. They are able to convincingly mimic plants in their environment to avoid being seen. Here, one has taken the form of a leaf – others can look like flower petals or buds.
To avoid attraction attention to themselves planthoppers walk very slowly, hopping like a grasshopper when they need to move quickly or escape predators.
Sea Lily and Sea Anemone
Other animals, such as the sea lily and sea anemone, have gained the appearance of flowers not as a means of disguise but through the course of their evolution.
The beautiful flower-like shapes of these creatures helps them move across the ocean floor and catch food. The sea lily’s feather-like arms filter plankton into its mouth, while sea anemone are able to ensnare small fish and shrimp.
Beetle Daisy
Beetle daisies (Gorteria diffusa) are flowers that use mimicry for a different purpose; to attract insect pollinators.
The South African plant features dark, raised spots on the base of some of its petals. The spots mimic a small fly that pollinates the plant, fooling the real thing into thinking that other insects are already feeding successfully on the flower and making it a more attractive proposition.
Carrion Flowers
Special mention to carrion flowers, which use scent to mimic the smell of rotting meat and attract flies and carrion-eating beetles to pollinate the plant. The deep red colour of the flower’s spathe aids the illusion.
Several different species of unrelated plant are called carrion flowers, but perhaps the most famous is the giant Titan arum, whose stinking blooms can reach a gargantuan 9ft in height.
