Mantisfly

Natural Habitat

Found in various terrestrial habitats including forests, grasslands, and gardens, often blending in with vegetation.

Diet & Feeding

Adult mantisflies are generalist predators, feeding on small insects, pollen, and nectar. Larvae are parasitic, often feeding on spider egg sacs or bee/wasp larvae.

Behavior Patterns

Mantispids are known for their raptorial forelegs, resembling those of praying mantises, which they use to catch prey. The larvae have unusual parasitic life cycles; some species actively search for spider egg sacs, while others are phoretic, hitching a ride on female spiders to gain access to their egg sac.

Risks & Benefits

Mantisfly adults are beneficial predators of small insects. Their larval stage, particularly those that parasitize spider eggs, can be considered a natural control for spider populations. They pose no direct risks to humans.

Identified on: 9/19/2025