Subject: Some kind of Mantis
Geographic location of the bug: Colombia, South America
Date: 12/06/2017
Time: 06:37 PM EDT
Hey bugman!
Once again, another bug fella just flew through my window, but this is the rarest (for me, at least) yet! I know it’s some kind of Praying Mantis but it is really small. Like less than one inch.
P. S. Sorry for the low quality pics, the little guy was flying really fast.
How you want your letter signed: Stranded, Daniel
Dear Daniel,
Had you not mentioned the small size, we would have agreed that this is a species of Mantis, and we are still categorizing it as such, but we now question that it might be an unrelated predator that resembles a Mantis that is known as a Mantispid or Mantisfly. Your individual appears as though the wings are in the rest position with only one upper wing on top, covering the other three wings. Mantispids generally have two upper wings that meet in the middle when at rest. Perhaps Cesar Crash will have knowledge of South American Mantids that are very small.
It’s a mantis. Mantispids have longer legs with extra joints.
Sorry if my comment sounded rude, I just worded things a bit strangely 🙂
No offense taken. Your comments are appreciated.
Thanks 🙂
I agree with Ben, I am quite sure it is a Praying/Preying Mantis. It’s none of our “famous” small species (Chateessa and Matoida). It looks to me like it may be related to one species that was frequently find inside my house years ago:
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2012/11/louva-deus-mantoididae.html
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2012/10/pequeno-louva-deus.html
But even César Favacho couldn’t tell what it is without specimens in hand.
I guess Liturgusidae, but just a guess.
Thanks Cesar.
Sounds right!
I’m late to the party, but I agree that it’s a mantid. Mantispids apparently lack the delicate “foot” attached to their raptorial legs that mantids have, and bugguide states that mantispid front legs are not used for walking. In one pic, the insect’s front legs are clearly in contact with the ground, with clearly visible “delicate feet”.
At this point I believe it’s either a Gyromantis or a Paraoxypilus (even though most species are native to Australia, they seem almost identical so idk). Am I right?
If so, it would be a new record of a family in the Americas. Not impossible, but very hard to be. To say it, we should not compare the overall look, but many details not seen in the images. My opinion, Liturgusidae, have to check inner and outter spines in the raptorials.
I agree with Ben, I am quite sure it is a Praying/Preying Mantis. It’s none of our “famous” small species (Chateessa and Matoida). It looks to me like it may be related to one species that was frequently find inside my house years ago:
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2012/11/louva-deus-mantoididae.html
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2012/10/pequeno-louva-deus.html
But even César Favacho couldn’t tell what it is without specimens in hand.
I guess Liturgusidae, but just a guess.
Thank you so much for replying!
I agree with Cesar and Ben, I don’t think my bug is a Mantisfly, since they are more… “wasp-like” if you know what I mean haha. I’ve been digging and I may have found a Mantis really similar to mine. Unfortunately, the website does not state the species or even genus:
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/47173/praying_mantis.html
Perhaps that better quality image can help?
Really appreciating everyone’s help, Daniel.
That does look a lot like your mantis, even down to the caddisfly wings!
You’re right about the wasplike appearance of mantidflies. The ones that I’m used to remind me of mutant lacewing and paper-wasp hybrids 😛
Looks like it’s Asian “Captured Aug 1, 2016 22:08 in 114 Windsor Park Rd, Singapore “.
UPDATE: So I have been lurking around the web and I found this:
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_mantids/BoxerBarkMantid.htm
I know they are from Australia, but the male does look a lot like my bug, perhaps it is also an Amorphoscelidae. I’ll keep looking around.
Miraculously focused in something, Daniel.
Thank you so much for replying!
I agree with Cesar and Ben, I don’t think my bug is a Mantisfly, since they are more… “wasp-like” if you know what I mean haha. I’ve been digging and I may have found a Mantis really similar to mine. Unfortunately, the website does not state the species or even genus:
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/47173/praying_mantis.html
Perhaps that better quality image can help?
Really appreciating everyone’s help, Daniel.
That does look a lot like your mantis, even down to the caddisfly wings!
You’re right about the wasplike appearance of mantidflies. The ones that I’m used to remind me of mutant lacewing and paper-wasp hybrids 😛
UPDATE: So I have been lurking around the web and I found this:
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_mantids/BoxerBarkMantid.htm
I know they are from Australia, but the male does look a lot like my bug, perhaps it is also an Amorphoscelidae. I’ll keep looking around.
Miraculously focused in something, Daniel.