Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings and Allies (Neuroptera) » Mantidflies (Mantispidae) » Zeugomantispa » Zeugomantispa minuta

Species Zeugomantispa minuta

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Type of Mantis? - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly? - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantid ? - Zeugomantispa minuta Mantidfly - Zeugomantispa minuta
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings and Allies)
Family Mantispidae (Mantidflies)
Genus Zeugomantispa
Species minuta (Zeugomantispa minuta)
Other Common Names
Green Mantisfly (1)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Zeugomantispa minuta (Fabricius, 1775). Synonyms:
Mantispa viridis Walker 1853 (junior synonym--ITIS)
Size
Body length 15-20 mm (guide photos)--body size in mantidflies is said to be variable (2)
Identification
A bright green mantidfly--apparently distinctive in its range.
Range
Southeastern United States: New Jersey west to Wisconsin (rare in northern part of range), south to Texas, Florida. Also found through Central America to Venezuela (1) (3) (Neuroptera of Florida).
Season
Late spring through fall. BugGuide reports are April-November.
Food
predatory
Life Cycle
Larvae penetrate egg sacks of various spiders and develop as parasitoids. Reported to be parasitoids of 26 genera from 15 families of spiders.
Print References
Marshall, photo 255.4 (1)
Eaton and Kaufman, pp. 222-223, color photo (2)
Evans, p. 149--color photo (3)
Internet References
ITIS listing
Great Smoky Mountains National Park--checklist, Mantispa viridis
Journal of Arachnology--article on spider hosts
North Carolina State University Entomolgy Collection lists 31 specimens of Mantispa viridis.
Neuroptera of Florida--gives range of Mantispa viridis
Works Cited
1.Insects: Their Natural History And Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America
By Stephen A. Marshall
2.Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
By Eric Eaton, Kenn Kaufman
3.National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America
By Arthur V. Evans
Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 4 January, 2006 - 12:23pm
Additional contributions by cotinis
Last updated 23 August, 2009 - 11:00am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact