Nighttime photograph showing a white tent illuminated from within by a purple-hued ultraviolet (UV) light, casting a striking glow against the dark backdrop of a fenced backyard. A child stands next to the tent holding a flashlight, silhouetted against the tent's bright interior.

A green mantisfly perched vertically on white fabric illuminated softly, clearly displaying its transparent, intricately veined wings, slender green body, and distinctive, mantis-like front legs poised upward.

A detailed, close-up side view of a mantisfly's vibrant head and thorax, highlighting its remarkable rainbow-colored compound eyes with shades of blue, green, orange, and red. The neck is bright yellow transitioning into a green body, while slender red antennae extend forward.

A frontal, macro view of a mantisfly staring directly at the camera, showcasing prominently bulging, iridescent eyes in shades of green and copper. Its forelegs are held folded upright in classic mantis fashion, and intricate facial details are distinctly visible.

Took the light tent to my nephew's, and instead of a moth, the first thing they see is a mantisfly, these kids have all the luck!
We observed it in one of the child "bug magnifiers" I gifted them and let the little critter go.

#Mantispidae #Neuroptera #Invert #entomology 🪲🪳🌿

This image shows a Dicromantispa, an insect belonging to the family Mantispidae, commonly known as a mantidfly. This insect is characterized by its unique and striking appearance, blending traits reminiscent of both a praying mantis and a lacewing. It has a long, slender neck connecting its small head to a more robust thorax. Its eyes are large and bulging, displaying an iridescent bluish-green hue. The forelegs are mantis-like, adapted for grasping prey, and they are folded closely beneath its head, giving it the appearance of praying. Its transparent wings show delicate, intricate vein patterns, similar to lacewings. The body is elongated with translucent wings that reveal the abdomen beneath, patterned with bands and patches of muted yellow and darker colors. The wings are clear and finely veined, resting gracefully along its elongated, slender body. The overall coloration is a mix of dark brown, black, and pale yellowish shades, providing natural camouflage.

This #Mantispidae perched perfectly last year, likely genus Dicromantispa. I'm always conflicted about these since my primary critter is spiders. Mantidfly larvae hitch rides on spiders, then eat their eggs or actively search for spider egg sacks to consume. #entomology #bugsky #invertebrate

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body perched on a leaf looking upward with forelegs closed.

Mantid flies LOVE the camera! And I love them! #Climaciella brunnea #Mantispidae #Neuroptera #Predator

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body perched vertically, head facing upward, on a blade of grass.

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body perched vertically, head facing upward, on a blade of grass grooming the tarsi of its left mesothorasic leg.

#Mantid flies are gorgeous creatures! #Climaciella brunnea
#Mantispidae #Predator

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body, perched on two fingers

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body perched vertically in a leaflet grooming its right foreleg claw.

Mantid fly with brown wings, yellow-striped brown body resting a leaf facing left.

Aliens on Earth? #Climaciella brunnea is called the #wasp #mantidfly, Fam. #Mantispidae, for its resemblance to wasps. The larvae locate wolf #spider females. They enter her egg sac as it is being formed. From within the protected sac, it will eat the spider’s eggs. #Predation #Lycosidae

Yellow striped and red-brown wasp-sized winged insect with ferocious spined raptorial front legs, large bulging eyes - this mantid fly is perching on the edge of a leaf.

Whoa! A gorgeous #mantisfly (#Climaciella brunnea) #mimic of paper #wasps. #Mantispidae are uncommon #insects, but are widely distributed in the U.S. I feel lucky when I chance to see one!

Is it a wasp? Is it a mantis? No: it's a Mantidfly! #mantispidae #wildoz #urbanbiodiversity