by Valerie
May, 2012Mantisfly
The mantisfly (Leptomantispa pulchella) is a very weird-looking, rather uncommon bug. Related to antlions, owlflies, lacewings, and snakeflies, the mantisfly is a member of the order Neuroptera. Although it looks sort of like a praying mantis, the mantisfly is not closely related and is MUCH smaller. A large image like this makes it hard to imagine that the actual size of this insect is well under an inch in length. In spite of being small, the mantisfly is a predator that uses its modified front legs to grasp prey. The larvae of mantisflies live inside of spider egg sacs where they dine on the eggs. |