- Adult orchid mantises are long, winged and slender like other mantis species, but they possess pale white and pastel coloration. Individuals can be a pale pink, pale yellow or all white with some areas of pink or brown. Their abdomens are wide and shaped like orchid petals. This effect is enhanced when the mantis raises its abdomen in the air. Female orchid mantises grow 6 centimeters long, much larger than the 2.5- to 3-centimeter-long males. Females have six segments on their abdomens while males have eight. Juveniles, called nymphs, resemble black-and-red ants.
- Nymphs eat small insects such as fruit flies. Adults can eat insects and females can eat small lizards. Adults can catch flying insects that are attracted to orchids. The mantis stays still, draws its forelimbs up so that they resemble petals and then strikes when the insect comes close enough. The orchid mantis can easily dispatch bees and wasps. They also enjoy banana as a treat. Owners of pet orchid mantises typically feed them houseflies, feeder crickets and moths that have been fed vitamin and mineral "gut loading" food. The mantis will then digest the insect's last nutritious meal along with the insect.
- Nymphs hatch five to six weeks after adult females lay oothecae, which are 2-inch-long clusters of eggs stuck together by foam. Nymphs mature into breeding adults in five to six months. They molt five to seven times during their nymph stage. After their first molt, they lose the red-and-black coloring and appear more orchid-colored. Males mature faster than females. The adult lives only about two months. From hatching to death is a span of about eight months.
- The Malaysian orchid mantis is a solitary creature and attacks any other insect --- including other orchid mantises. This makes breeding them in captivity very difficult. The female must be well fed and given food during mating or she will eat the male. Males are often reluctant to approach an adult female.
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