Mantispidae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Neuropterida
Ordo: Neuroptera
Subordo: Hemerobiiformia
Superfamilia: Mantispoidea

Familia: Mantispidae
Subfamiliae: Calomantispinae – Drepanicinae – Mantispinae – †Mesomantispinae – Symphrasinae – ...
Overview of genera (20 + 5†)

Afromantispa – Allomantispa – Buyda – Campion – Climaciella – Dicromantispa – Drepanicus – Entanoneura – Eumantispa – Haematomantispa – Leptomantispa – Mantispa – Nivella – Nolima – Plega – Xeromantispa – Zeugomantispa – †Archaeodrepanicus – †Clavifemora – †Doratomantispa – †Karataumantispa – †Sinomesomantispa – †Symphrasites
Name

Mantispidae Leach, 1815

Synonyms

†Liassochrysidae

References

Leach, W.E. 1815. Entomology [pp. 57–172]. In: Brewster, D. (Ed). Brewster’s Edinburgh Encyclopedia. Volume IX [part I]. W. Blackwood, J. Waugh, etc., Edinburgh, 764 pp. BHL Reference page.
Ardila-Camacho, A. & García, A. 2015. Mantidflies of Colombia (Neuroptera, Mantispidae). Zootaxa 3937(3): 401–455. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3937.3.1 Reference page.
Ardila-Camacho, A., Calle-Tobón, A., Wolff, M. & Stange, L.A. 2018. New species and new distributional records of Neotropical Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Zootaxa 4413(2): 295–324. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4413.2.4 Paywall Reference page.
Hoffman, K.M. 2002. Family Mantispidae. In: Penny, N.D. (ed.), A guide to the lacewings (Neuroptera) of Costa Rica. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 53(12): 251–275. BHL
Jepson, J.E. 2015. A review of the current state of knowledge of fossil Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Zootaxa 3964(4): 419–432. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3964.4.2 Preview (PDF). Reference page.
Liu, X.Y., Winterton, S.L., Wu, C., Piper, R., Ohl, M. 2014 (Online) 2015 (Print): A new genus of mantidflies discovered in the Oriental region, with a higher-level phylogeny of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) using DNA sequences and morphology. Systematic entomology 40(1): 183–206. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12096 Reference page.
Marquez-López, Y. & Contreras-Ramos, A. 2018. Description of the pupa of Climaciella brunnea (Say) (Mantispidae, Mantispinae) and a key to known pupae of mantispids from North America. Zootaxa 4444(1): 66–72. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4444.1.4 Paywall Reference page.
Machado, R.J.P. & Rafael, J.A. 2010. Taxonomy of the Brazilian species previously placed in Mantispa Illiger, 1798 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), with the description of three new species. Zootaxa 2454: 1–61. Preview (PDF).
New, T.R. 1998. Preliminary survey of the Mantispidae of south east Asia. Acta zoologica fennica (209): 175–181. Abstract.
Reynoso-Velasco, D. & Contreras-Ramos, A. 2019. Taxonomic review of the mantidfly genus Nolima Navás (Neuroptera, Mantispidae, Calomantispinae). Zookeys, 853: 131–158. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.853.30317 Reference page.
Snyman, L.P., Sole, C.L. & Ohl, M. 2015. On Afromantispa and Mantispa (Insecta, Neuroptera, Mantispidae): elucidating generic boundaries. Zookeys 523: 89–97. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.523.6068 Preview (PDF). Reference page.
Snyman, L.P., Sole, C.L. & Ohl, M. 2018. A revision of and keys to the genera of the Mantispinae of the Oriental and Palearctic regions (Neuroptera: Mantispidae). Zootaxa 4450(5): 501–549. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4450.5.1 Open access PDF Reference page.

Vernacular names
English: Mantispidae
日本語: カマキリモドキ科

Mantispidae, known commonly as mantidflies, mantispids, mantid lacewings, mantisflies or mantis-flies, is a family of small to moderate-sized insects in the order Neuroptera. There are many genera with around 400 species worldwide,[1] especially in the tropics and subtropics. Only 5 species of Mantispa occur in Europe.[2] As their names suggest, members of the group possess raptorial forelimbs similar to those of praying mantis, a case of convergent evolution.

Description and ecology
Head of a mantisfly in genus Plega
Species unknown, Sydney, Australia
A Sagittalata species female from Kerala, India

About 5–47 mm (0.20–1.85 in) long and with a wingspan of 5–30 mm (0.2–1.2 in), some mantidflies such as Climaciella brunnea, Euclimacia nodosa[3][4] are wasp mimics,[5] but most are brownish with green, yellow and sometimes red hues. The vernacular and scientific names are derived from their mantis-like appearance, as their spiny "raptorial" front legs are modified to catch small insect prey and are very similar to the front legs of mantids (the only difference is that the pincers lack footpads and are not used for walking at all). The adults are predatory insects that are often nocturnal, and are sometimes attracted by porch lights or blacklights. They are usually green, brown, yellow, and sometimes pink, and have four membranous wings which may sometimes be patterned (especially in wasp mimicking species) but are usually clear. Adult mantidflies are predators of suitably sized insects, which they catch as mantids do. However, the underlying mechanisms for the prey capture behavior are different in mantidflies and mantids.[6] Mantidflies are active hunters, but as with other Neuroptera, they are cumbersome fliers.

Symphrasinae larvae are sedentary parasitoids on bee, wasp or scarab beetle larvae. Larvae of the Calomantispinae are predators of small arthropods, and in at least one species they are mobile. Mantispinae have the most specialized larval development among all mantidflies studied to date (the life history of the Drepanicinae remains unknown): their campodeiform larvae seek out female spiders or their egg sacs which they then enter; the scarabaeiform larvae then feed on the spider eggs, draining egg contents through a piercing/sucking tube formed by modified mandibles and maxillae, pupating in the egg sac.[1]

First-instar mantispids use two strategies to locate spider eggs: larvae may burrow directly through the silk of egg sacs they find, or they may board and be carried by female spiders prior to sac production (phoresy), entering the sac as it is being constructed. Mantispids that board spiders usually adopt positions on or near the pedicel; some species may enter the spider's book lungs. Larvae maintain themselves aboard spiders by feeding on spider hemolymph. Transfers of larvae from spider to spider are possible during spider mating or cannibalism. All of the major groups of hunting spiders are attacked by spider-boarding mantispids; the egg sacs of web-building species are also entered by egg-sac penetrators.[7]
Systematics

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). These and the prehistoric Mesithonidae - probably a paraphyletic assemblage rather than a natural group - form the superfamily Mantispoidea.

Many mantidflies are placed in one of the four subfamilies, of which the Symphrasinae are probably the most distinct and the Mantispinae are the most advanced. But a considerable number of taxa cannot be easily accommodated in this layout, and are therefore better treated as incertae sedis at present.

Extant taxa based on Global Biodiversity Information Facility[8] and extinct taxa based on Jepson, 2015 and subsequent literature.[9]
Calomantispinae

Calomantispa Banks, 1913
Nolima Navás, 1914

Drepanicinae

†Acanthomantispa Lu et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
†Aragomantispa Pérez-de la Fuente and Peñalver 2019 Spanish amber, Albian[10]
†Dicranomantispa Lu et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
Ditaxis McLachlan, 1867
Drepanicus Blanchard, 1851
Gerstaeckerella Enderlein, 1910
†Liassochrysa Ansorge and Schlüter 1990 Green Series, Germany, Toarcian
†Promantispa Panfilov 1980 Karabastau Formation, Kazakshtan, Callovian
†Psilomantispa Lu et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
Theristria Gerstaecker, 1884

Mantispinae

Afromantispa Snyman & Ohl, 2012
Asperala Lambkin, 1986
Austroclimaciella Handschin, 1961
Austromantispa Esben-Petersen, 1917
Buyda Navás, 1926
Campanacella Handschin, 1961
Campion Navás, 1914
Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959
Climaciella Enderlein, 1910
Dicromantispa Hoffman, 2002[1]
Entanoneura Enderlein, 1910
Euclimacia Enderlein, 1910
Eumantispa Okamoto, 1910
†Feroseta Poinar 2006 Dominican amber, Miocene
Haematomantispa Hoffman, 2002
Leptomantispa Hoffman, 2002
Madantispa Fraser, 1952
Mantispa Illiger, 1798
Mimetispa Handschin, 1961
Nampista Navás, 1914
Necyla Navás, 1913
Nivella Navás, 1930
Orientispa Poivre, 1984
Paramantispa Williner & Kormilev, 1959
Paulianella Handschin, 1960
†Prosagittalata Nel 1988 Céreste, France, Rupelian
Pseudoclimaciella Handschin, 1960
Rectinerva Handschin, 1959
Sagittalata Handschin, 1959
Spaminta Lambkin, 1986
Stenomantispa Stitz, 1913
Toolida Lambkin, 1986
Tuberonotha Handschin, 1961
†Vectispa Lambkin 1986 Bembridge Marls, United Kingdom, Priabonian
Xaviera (lacewing) Lambkin, 1986
Xeromantispa Hoffman, 2002
Zeugomantispa Hoffman, 2002

Symphrasinae

Auth: Navás, 1909

†Archaeosymphrasis Shi et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
Anchieta Navás, 1909
†Habrosymphrasis Shi et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
†Haplosymphrasites Lu et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
†Parasymphrasites Lu et al. 2020 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
Plega Navás, 1927 - Americas
†Symphrasites Wedmann & Makarkin, 2007 Messel Pit, Germany, Eocene
Trichoscelia Westwood, 1852

†Mesomantispinae

Auth: Makarkin 1996

†Archaeodrepanicus Jepson et al. 2013 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian
†Clavifemora Jepson et al. 2013 Daohugou, China, Callovian
†Karataumantispa Jepson 2015 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian
†Mesomantispa Makarkin 1996 Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian
†Ovalofemora Jepson et al. 2018 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian
†Sinomesomantispa Jepson et al. 2013 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian

Unassigned

Allomantispa Liu, Wu, Winterton & Ohl, 2014
Entatoneura Enderlein, 1910
Fera (lacewing) Whalley, 1983
Forciada Kozhanchikov, 1949
Longicollum - monotypic Longicollum benmaddoxi Jepson et al., 2018
Manega Navás, 1929
Promantispa Jarzembowski, 1980
Prosagittalata Nel, 1988

Fossil taxa may be of an altogether quite basal position, for example the Jurassic Liassochrysa (about 180 million years old) and Promantispa (about 155 million years old) have been assigned to either a basal position within the group or Drepanicinae, the most basal subfamily within the group. The Early Jurassic Prohemerobius dilaroides (the type species of the "Prohemerobiidae" assemblage) as well as the Late Permian Permantispa emelyanovi (of the just as likely paraphyletic "Permithonidae") were suggested to possibly represent ancestral mantidflies[11] However, later studies found them to be basal members of Psychopsoidea and Neuroptera respectively.[12]

Most living genera from which fossil species are also known to go back to the Miocene; the Oligocene "Climaciella" henrotayi probably does not belong in the living genus. Two fossil species have been described as part of the extant genus Dicromantispa, Dicromantispa moronei from Dominican amber and Dicromantispa electromexicana from Mexican amber.[1]

The North American species include:

Climaciella brunnea
Drepanicus prasinus
Entanoneura floridana
Mantispa fuscicornis
Mantispa interrupta
Mantispa pulchella
Mantispa sayi
Mantispa scabrosa
Mantispa viridis
Nolima dine
Nolima kantsi
Nolima pinal
Plega banksi
Plega dactylota
Plega fratercula
Plega signata

Paraberotha, Retinoberotha and Whalfera were formerly placed here, but have since been recognized as Rhachiberothidae. Mantispidiptera are diminutive insects, apparently neuropterans of some sort, perhaps Hemerobiiformia; their exact affiliation cannot at present be determined because of their odd apomorphies, though they are unlikely to have been mantidflies.[1][11]
References

Engel, MS; Grimaldi, DA (2007). "The neuropterid fauna of Dominican and Mexican amber (Neuropterida, Megaloptera, Neuroptera)". American Museum Novitates (3587): 1–58. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2007)3587[1:TNFODA]2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/5880.
Aspöck, Ulrike & Aspöck, Horst (2010): Fauna Europaea – Mantispidae. Version of 2010-DEC-23. Retrieved 2011-JAN-03.
Bhattacharjee, S; Ohl, M; Saha, S; Sarkar, S; Raychaudhuri, D (2010). "Euclimacia nodosa (Westwood, 1847), a rare and poorly known species of Mantispidae (Neuroptera), recorded for the first time from West Bengal, India". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 86 (2): 221–224. doi:10.1002/zoos.201000004.
Ohl, M (2004). "A new wasp-mimicking species of the genus Euclimacia from Thailand (Neuroptera, Mantispidae)" (PDF). Denisia. 13: 193–196.
Opler, PA (1981). "Polymorphic Mimicry of Polistine Wasps by a Neotropical Neuropteran". Biotropica. 13 (3): 165–176. doi:10.2307/2388121. JSTOR 2388121.
Kral, K (2013). Vision in the mantispid: a sit-and-wait and stalking predatory insect. Physiological Entomology 38: 1-12.
Redborg, KE (1998). "Biology of the Mantispidae". Annual Review of Entomology. 43: 175–194. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.43.1.175. PMID 15012388.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Mantispidae (retrieved 27 October 2020)
Jepson, James E. (2015-06-04). "A review of the current state of knowledge of fossil Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera)". Zootaxa. 3964 (4): 419–432. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3964.4.2. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 26249453.
Pérez-de la Fuente, Ricardo; Peñalver, Enrique (2019-09-13). "A mantidfly in Cretaceous Spanish amber provides insights into the evolution of integumentary specialisations on the raptorial foreleg". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 13248. Bibcode:2019NatSR...913248P. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49398-1. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6744510. PMID 31519980.
Wedmann, S; Makarkin, VN (2007). "A new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Eocene of Germany, with a review of the fossil record and palaeobiogeography of the family" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149 (4): 701–716. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00273.x.
Engel, Michael S.; Winterton, Shaun L.; Breitkreuz, Laura C.V. (2018-01-07). "Phylogeny and Evolution of Neuropterida: Where Have Wings of Lace Taken Us?". Annual Review of Entomology. 63 (1): 531–551. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043127. ISSN 0066-4170.