Mantispid
Campion sp.
-37.8945, 145.3
Field Notes
Description:
This strange and interesting lacewing was about 18 mm long. It was a dark brown with a cylindrical abdomen showing pale patterns. The wings were longer than the abdomen and showed a network of veins. The costal margins were chitinous, broadening and ending slight short of the wing tips. A long neck supported a head with spherical blue eyes ( like an antlion) and short antennae. The fore legs were raptorial like that of a mantis and had a few spines.
Habitat:
Spotted on an Acacia tree
Notes:
These mantisflies parasitise spider egg cases, where the larvae develop. I believe the genus ID is correct but will need confirmation.
Although they look like mantids they are not related and unlike Mantids, they have a larval and pupal stage in their development (holometabolous)
Also called mantis-fly, mantis lacewing.
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Mantispidae
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