Community identification
Brown Mantidfly
Dicromantispa sayi
- Order & Family
- Neuroptera: Mantispidae
- Size
- 10 - 20 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Fields, forests, and gardens, often found near spider populations or on vegetation.
Diet & Feeding
Adults are predators of small insects; larvae are specialized parasites of spider egg sacs.
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day and attracted to lights at night. They undergo hypermetamorphosis where larvae search for spiders to hitch a ride to an egg sac.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control small insect populations, though they do impact spider populations.