MANTISPID

also called Mantisfly, or Mantidfly, any insect of the neuropteran family Mantispidae, usually found in tropical and subtropical areas. The adult mantispid bears a superficial resemblance to the praying mantid (order Dictyoptera). The European mantispid (Mantispa styriaca) is 12 to 20 millimetres long and has a wingspread of about 25 millimetres. The female fastens rose-coloured eggs to long, slender stalks. Two larval forms parasitize eggs and young of the spider genus Lycosa. One larval form is active and has well-developed legs and a squarish head; the second is a fat white grub with short legs. The fully grown larva (7 to 10 mm long) spins a silken cocoon before its first pupal stage; the second pupal stage, however, is active, and there is no cocoon. The larvae of the Brazilian mantispid (Symphasis varia) are parasitic on wasps and pupate in the wasp nest.