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Mantid ID needed
Sent some pictures of this mantis before, but they were of poor quaility. This one’s much better. Mantis was found indoors in VA in early Dec 04, but we had recently returned from FL so it may have hitched a ride. Very small, just under an inch in length. Any ideas? Is it indigenous to VA? To North America?
JMG

Hi JMG,
Your lovely photograph is not of a Preying Mantis, but an unrelated species of Mantidfly. Mantidflies or Mantispids, belong to the Order Neuroptera which includes Dobsonflies and Lacewings. They are in the Family Mantispidae. We are only familiar with brown species so we checked with Eric Eaton who wrote back: “Yes, this is a mantispid, but I’m not sure of the genus and species. Mantispa was split recently, and so this particular species may fall under another genus now.” They are common in the South. Hope that helps.

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