Blepharopsis

{{Short description|Species of praying mantis}}

{{Redirect|Devil's Flower Mantis|the genus of praying mantises also known as Devil's Flower Mantis|Idolomantis}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Devil flower mantis.jpg

| image_caption = B. mendica on a tyre of a car

| genus = Blepharopsis

| species = mendica

| parent_authority = Rehn, 1902

| authority = (Fabricius, 1775)

| display_parents = 3

| synonyms =

Mantis mendica Fabricius, 1775

| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies

| subdivision = See text

}}

Blepharopsis mendica is a species of praying mantis found in North Africa, parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and southern Asia, and on the Canary Islands, and the sole member of the genus Blepharopsis. Egyptian flower mantis, thistle mantis, and Arab mantis are among its common names.[http://www.wildsideholidays.com/natural/insects-and-creepy-crawlies/93-mantis-and-stick-insects/295-mantis-in-iberia Mantis in Iberia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718210442/http://www.wildsideholidays.com/natural/insects-and-creepy-crawlies/93-mantis-and-stick-insects/295-mantis-in-iberia |date=July 18, 2008 }}[http://www.mantisplace.com/mantisforsale.html Mantis Place] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705120746/http://www.mantisplace.com/mantisforsale.html |date=2008-07-05 }}[http://www.dannesdjur.com/einsect10.shtml Danne's Animals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628234231/http://www.dannesdjur.com/einsect10.shtml |date=2012-06-28 }}

In deimatic display, the adult rotates its head and thorax to one side, displaying the bright colours on the insides of its forelegs and the undersides of its hindwings, and holds its wings slightly spread behind the body, making it seem large and threatening.{{cite web | url=http://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/species/thistle-mantis/ | title=Thistle Mantis | publisher=Keeping Insects | date=2013 | access-date=2013-05-10}}