Mantisfly

Mantisfly, or mantispid, refers to insects in the family Mantispidae within the order Neuroptera. They resemble a cross between a praying mantis and a lacewing: they have an elongated prothorax and raptorial forelegs like mantids, combined with delicate, net-veined wings of lacewings. Size and coloration vary among species, but the mantis-like forelegs are a distinctive feature.

Mantispidae comprises dozens of genera and hundreds of species. Adults are generally small to medium-sized, and colors range from green and brown to patterned forms. Wings are typically clear or lightly patterned, with a characteristic network of veins.

Ecology and life cycle: Adult mantispids feed on nectar, pollen, and small insects, and they are often found on flowers or foliage. The biology of their larvae is notable: they are parasitoids or specialized parasites of spider egg sacs. The early instars are mobile and locate spider webs or egg sacs to infest, where they consume the developing eggs.

Distribution and habitat: Mantispids occur worldwide, with greatest diversity in tropical regions. They inhabit a variety of vegetated habitats, including forests, woodlands, meadows, and garden edges, where they can access flowers for nectar and spiders for larval hosts.