The Mantidfly is a bizarre neuropteran with the front half of a praying mantis — complete with raptorial forelegs for seizing prey — grafted onto the rear of a lacewing. This is a stunning example of convergent evolution. The larva is a spider egg parasitoid: it rides on a female spider, enters her egg sac, and feeds on the eggs inside.
Best time to see a Mantidfly
The best time to see a Mantidfly is April–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 4,749 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Mantidfly? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Mantidfly sightings near you
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