Family Thespidae

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Range · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited

Oligonicella scudderi - Thespis parva - male

Unidentified Mantis - Thespis parva - male

“Thespis parva“ slender prairie mantis ootheca - Thespis parva

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Mantodea (Mantids)

Family Thespidae

Explanation of Names

Thespidae Giglio-Tos 1919

Numbers

3 spp. in 3 genera in our area, close to 100 spp. in ~40 genera total(1)

Range

New World (primarily neotropical); Africa, Eurasia

Remarks

variously treated in superfamilies Thespoidea Saussure 1869(2) or Acanthopoidea Burmeister 1838(3)

Print References

(4)

Works Cited

1.	Otte D., Spearman L., Stiewe M.B.D. Mantodea species file online. Version 5.0

2.	The systematics of Mantodea revisited: an updated classification incorporating multiple data sources (Insecta: Dictyoptera) Schwarz C.J., Roy R. 2019. Ann. Soc. ent. Fr. (N.S.) 55: 101‒196.

3.	The Neotropical 'polymorphic earless praying mantises' – Part I: molecular phylogeny and revised higher-level systematics... Rivera J., Svenson G.J. 2016. Sys. Entomol. 41: 607–649.

4.	Dr. Fothergill's little gray American mantis: Taxonomic revision of Thespis Serville, 1831 Anderson K. 2022. Soothsayer, J. Mantodea Res. 3(1): 48‒103.

Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 11 October, 2009 - 6:16pm
Additional contributions by v belov, behmrachel
Last updated 12 November, 2023 - 7:12pm

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 © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version