The aim of the module was to make students understand the forms of the insects and the logic behind it. We, the students, had to choose an insect which we either find fascinating or too disgusting.

The insect I chose was an orchid mantis, which is found in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. It resembles a flower and are known to grab their prey at a blinding speed.

What fascinated me about this insect was how it looked and its behaviour. The orchid mantis looks exactly like a flower, and can blend in easily with them. Many might think that it camouflages itself in-between the orchids, but the interesting thing is that the mantis does not. Instead of being hidden and overlooked, this mantis wants to stand out. If kept in-between several orchids, this mantis looks more bright and attractive. Basically, the mantis wants the other insects to come near it.

The orchid mantis attracts the prey towards itself to attack it. This behaviour is known as aggressive mimicry.