Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Mantispidae - Mantispa styriaca :)

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 09-09-2007 21:29
#1
Today at 2 am I saw one of the most beautiful animals we have on Earth: the Mantispidae neuropter. I think that this amazing neuropter can be Mantispa sp.


farm2.static.flickr.com/1101/1352231348_7ee05280d5_b.jpg

farm2.static.flickr.com/1222/1351534685_fde04d585b_b.jpg
Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 14:45

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 09-09-2007 23:12
#2
These are amazing pictures of an amazing critter. Two questions: what is the size of the mantis? What is it doing in the 2nd picture?...

Joaquim Gaspar

Posted by cosmln on 09-09-2007 23:18
#3
a thrid question: what is in the background, is so pink.
here in romania if remeber correctly we have two species one i have in photo (Mantispa perla)... they are sometime very common (hundreds) in the night at ligkt (observed when doing night collecting).

cosmln

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 09-09-2007 23:53
#4
1 - it has 2 cm.
2 - I don?t know. But it seems it is making a cleaning... Smile
3 - it is secret. Smile Here in Iberian peninsula there are more species. Perhaps Nampista too.

Posted by Rui Andrade on 10-09-2007 00:22
#5
I love the 2nd photoSmile!

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 00:48
#6
thanks for the complitments! Smile

I love the mantispid itself.
I'm intriguing why this mantispid decided to pose in that way! He remained in this state during about 2-3 minutes if I recall well. It was very interesting to follow his behaviour trying catching the insects. This is utterly fantastic insect. I hope I can know the name of species for this one. At least, to get the confirmation for genus level would be great! Thank you again.

Feel free to send opinions about the reason/s that drove this mantispid to do that position! hey... i didn?t glue anything!! Smile

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 14:47
#7
According to the Agostino, expert on neuropterans in Italy, this is Mantispa styriaca. Smile


cosmnl, please show here your photo of Mantispa perla. Smile Thank you!

Posted by Tony Irwin on 10-09-2007 19:15
#8
I'm not certain, but from the size of the abdomen, I'd guess that "he" is a "she", and that the cleaning is just making sure that everything is ready for egg-laying.
Great photos, Jorge!

Posted by cosmln on 10-09-2007 19:44
#9
jorgemotalmeida wrote:
According to the Agostino, expert on neuropterans in Italy, this is Mantispa styriaca. Smile


cosmnl, please show here your photo of Mantispa perla. Smile Thank you!


OK
Edited by cosmln on 10-09-2007 19:46

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 20:30
#10
wow! cosmnl. Definitely mantispids are among beautiful animals on Earth. And they are very aggressive and very quick to catch their prey as well.

Posted by cosmln on 10-09-2007 20:33
#11
jorgemotalmeida wrote:
wow! cosmnl.


just call me cosmin... i think will be easier Wink

cosmln

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 21:19
#12
here we can see one Muscid fly that is the prey of this spectacular mantispid.

Musca autumnalis I think. DO you agree?

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-09-2007 21:32
#13
this mantispid caught the fly WITH only RAPTORIAL LEG! spectacular sight. In less one second the mantispid took off the head of fly! Frown In 5 minutes the fly was full eaten. awkward

Posted by Rui Andrade on 10-09-2007 21:51
#14
I love aggressive insects Smile!!!

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 21-09-2007 21:04
#15
anyone agree that the fly can be Musca autumnalis?