What Are You Dancing For? With a Devil's Flower Mantis

Devil's Flower Mantis Credit: Cathy Keifer: Shutterstock

ME: Why are your arms up? Why are you swinging from side to side? Why are you dancing?

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS: I'm IDOLOMANTIS DIABOLICA! [Evil laugh] BWAHAHAHAHA!

ME: Why are you laughing? What are you doing?

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS: If you were a prey, I would remain motionless. In camouflage.

ME: Right.

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS: IF you were a fly, moth, butterfly, or beetle, I would be still. Look like a flower. Wait for you to come near me. Then I would pounce on you and skewer and rip.

ME: Right.

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS: But - you are NOT a fly or moth or butterfly or beetle - are you?

ME: I don't think so. No.

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS: So I cannot decapitate you, grind you, tear you, or chew you. So, I must distract you or scare you. Therefore, I raise my hands and swing from side to side and dance. So you run away. Are you scared now? ARE YOU SCARED? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

ME: You don't have any other defenses other than dancing?

DEVIL'S FLOWER MANTIS [crestfallen]: No.