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Mantidfly

Mantispidae fam.

Photo by Tiz
Published on Project Noah
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-26.1797, 32.0004

Field Notes

Description:

3-4 cm. Night active. Ther are around 400 species worldwide.

Habitat:

Drawn to a ligth at a cottage in the forest.

Notes:

Among the Neuroptera (which includes lacewings and owlflies), mantidflies are apparently most closely related to the Dilaridae (pleasing lacewings) and the thorny (Rhachiberothidae) and beaded lacewings (Berothidae)

Reference Links:

Mantispidae

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Tiz
Lauren, Glad you liked this small insect. I have only seen this type of star shaped reflection from antlion flies before. It is a result of using the flash, but perhaps I should collect one and look at it in daylight... You also managed to give me an id-hinch there :) Thank you very much for that :)
LaurenZarate
Beautiful little Mantispid! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantispidae). Love the eyes…was that the real coloring or a reflection from the flash?
KateBraun
I came across something similar in an article about spider predation - thread-legged assassin bugs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emesinae
Tiz
Thank you Jopy! Cant wait to find out what this is! What is mimicing what :) And why...
Jopy
Very interesting, Tiz :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mission
Swaziland Guide
Photographed
PublishedMarch 3, 2014

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