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.

The hammer orchid's flower mimics the female wasp looking upward ... geographic spread of plants over a wide area -- generally, insects will travel further to find a mate than to find a meal.

Some flowers go to extraordinary lengths to attract pollinators. Bee orchids mimic the shape and scent of bees in order to lure them into ‘pseudocopulation’, where the male insect attempts to mate ...

This orchid mantis is perfectly adapted to hide and hunt among the flowers from which it gets its name. Unlike many other insects, these mantises can change their color from their default of white to ...

(Believe me, I've sniffed them.) Some orchids promise shelter, deploying floral forms that mimic insect burrows or brood rooms. Others mimic male bees in flight, hoping to incite territorial ...

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 ...

The orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. It has become popular with insect breeders in the pet trade thanks to its striking looks. The females are big, ...