Orchid Imitations and a Darth Vader Look: Prague Zoo to Open Mantis Exhibition

The orchid mantis is reminiscent of orchid flowers thanks to its unusual appearance. Photo: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“The flagship species of the exhibition is, perhaps unexpectedly, a native Czech species, the European praying mantis. Although almost everyone is familiar with its name or appearance, fewer people know that, as a result of climate change, it has now spread from southern Moravia as far as the Krkonoše Mountains. We would like to draw attention to this species, help dispel the myths surrounding it and present it as a fascinating neighbour that there is absolutely no need to fear,” says Vojtěch Víta, Prague Zoo’s invertebrate keeper and the exhibition’s author.

Visitors will find the European praying mantis in the very first terrarium at the entrance. The first part of the exhibition will also feature two species that entomologists have been observing just beyond the Czech border, making their appearance in the Czech Republic in the near future a possibility. These are the robust Transcaucasian giant mantis and the rather small European dwarf mantis.

Fans of bizarrely coloured or unusually shaped mantises will be delighted by several of the species on display, some of which are rarely seen in human care. The Southeast Asian orchid mantis is striking for its body shape, which imitates an orchid flower, while members of the genus Deroplatys use camouflage that mimics dry leaves. Fans of Star Wars will appreciate the Darth Vader mantis, whose appearance bears an unmistakable resemblance to the film anti-hero.

The Darth Vader mantis bears an unmistakable resemblance to the film character of the same name. Photo: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Saturday opening is by no means the end of the special programme. Four times a week—every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday—a guided tour of the exhibition with an expert keeper will begin at 10:30 am. For the first time, Prague Zoo is also offering a limited number of walks to Sklenářka, where participants will search for wild European praying mantises that have already become permanent residents of the wild in Prague’s Troja district.

The European praying mantis is the  only native mantis species in the Czech Republic. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can see it during special walks to Sklenářka accompanied by a Prague Zoo expert keeper. The photograph was taken at this location. Photo: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo