mantid mantis? whats with the wings?
December 3, 2009
I recently sent you a photo of a unusual bug that entered my home and I caught on the wall.I realy had no idea what it was. looked like a damsel fly /praying Mantis.Well I think it might be a Mantis/mantid baby.I decided to feed it a small amount of cat food on the end of a stick or pencil and it attacked it.I learned that baby mantids or mantisis would eat that so I figured if it ate it I might find out what the heck this bug is…well what do you think?I have great photos/videos of it eating/attacking it also. It’s funny this bug came in my home I have always been facinated by THE PRAYING MANTIS/MANTID .I am going to raise it and see what I get.
Mantislover
northeast/new york/Long Island
Dear Mantislover,
We hope you can find it in you to love more than one family of insects, because this is not a Mantis. Despite appearances, your Mantidfly in the family Mantispidae is not remotely related to a Preying Mantis. It is a Neuropteran and is related to Lacewings and Antlions. Thanks for the awesome images. BugGuide has many examples of Mantidflies pictured.
