Bark Mantispid (Plega sp.) in San Cristóbal, México

Photo by LaurenZarate

Published on Project Noah

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16.7131, -92.6127

Field Notes

Description:

I found 2 female individuals of this Bark Mantispid in the same week! It is such an amazing little insect. She is 2 cm in length, with wings. Raptorial front legs have developed independently in several different orders, including Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera,Thysanoptera (Thrips) and in this case, the Neuroptera. Mantispids are basically Lace Wings with raptorial forelegs. This one seems to be more nocturnal, as I found them both active at night. It is also cryptically colored for camouflage on bark. The ovipositor is long and is usually held pointed upwards and curving forward. It is visible in all the pictures. They use their raptorial legs for climbing about, as well as for catching prey. They are very tame and gentle to hold. Family Mantispidae, Subfamily Symphrasinae.

Habitat:

Near lights, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

Several species within the subfamily Symphrasinae have been reared from the nests of bees and wasps or in the laboratory on larvae or pupae of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. First instars are active and find their hosts by attaching to an adult bee or wasp and moving into a cell when the egg is laid. Subsequently, they feed on a single host to which they adhere via a sticky, yellow secretion; they thus have the typical mantispid hypermetamorphosis (with several distinct larval types).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantispidae
https://www.naturalista.mx/taxa/636099-Symphrasinae
For a fly with raptorial forelegs see: https://bugguide.net/node/view/176859/bgpage and for a wasp see: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1009217/bgpage.
For species of Plega see: https://bugguide.net/node/view/831703
http://madrean.org/symbfauna/taxa/index.php?taxon=666171&taxauthid=1
https://www.alexanderwild.com/Insects/Insect-Orders/Alluring-Lacewings/…
https://bugguide.net/node/view/885447
https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_JSA1914&res=640&mobile=1
https://bugguide.net/node/view/831687

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (14)

Adrian17

Hi Lauren, This is a very beautiful photo, and also an interesting species. I'm a PhD student at University of Mexico (UNAM). I'm revising this subfamily as doctoral project, did you collect the specimen? do you have more specimens? my e-mail es [email protected] for any doubt, question or information. Best regards,

LaurenZarate

Thank you Mark, she really is a curious little thing.

Mark Ridgway

What a wonderful little creature. We have bark mantis and mantispede but this looks a perfect combination of the two.

LaurenZarate

Thanks Leuba :)

Leuba Ridgway

Great photos Lauren and thanks for the notes.

LaurenZarate

Thank you Daniele and Maria. She and I both love being nominated!

Maria dB

Excellent photos and interesting creature!

DanielePralong

Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated Lauren!

LaurenZarate

Thank you Bernadette :)

Bernadette S

Amazing pics!

LaurenZarate

Thank you triggsturner :)

triggsturner

Stunning little bug! Great photos and notes Lauren.

LaurenZarate

Thank you Felix! It's such an exquisite little creature!

Felix Fleck

That's a fantastic find and pics! Awesome.