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Photo#1281817
Mantidfly - Night bug with folding front legs that raise up behind it's head - Plega

Mantidfly - Night bug with folding front legs that raise up behind it's head - Plega
North of Kingman - Serenity Hill, Mohave County, Arizona, USA
August 24, 2016
Size: Less than 1/2"
This was on our window at night, attracted to the light and/or the smorgasbord of other insects. The eyes and the clear wings remind me of a mature antlion. But I have never seen the over the shoulder claw/legs before. I apologize I couldn't get the insect on white paper under good lighting. He flew off.

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Mantidfly - Night bug with folding front legs that raise up behind it's head - Plega Night bug with folding front legs that raise up behind it's head - Plega

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Mantisfly
A species of mantisfly. The larvae are parasitoids of spider egg sacs. Cool buggers!

 
AH!! That makes sense! I was
AH!! That makes sense! I was looking up mantis-like lacewings in my searches. Thank you. In all my years chasing insects I had never seen one. Thank you.

Edited to add: I just read "they are Neuroptera, related to ant lions, dobson flies, alder flies, snakeflies, and owlflies" THAT explains why the eyes remind me of mature antlions".

Again. THANK YOU!

 
Yes - Plega…
See reference here.

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