Mantispidae
| Mantispidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Mantispa styriaca | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Neuroptera |
| Superfamily: | Mantispoidea |
| Family: | Mantispidae |
| Subfamilies | |
|
and see text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Liassochrysidae | |
Mantispidae (/mænˈtɪspədiː/), commonly known as mantidflies, mantispids, mantid lacewings, mantisflies or mantis-flies, is a family of small to moderate-sized insects in the order Neuroptera. There are many genera with around 400 species worldwide, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Only five species of Mantispa occur in Europe. As their names suggest, members of the group possess raptorial forelimbs similar to those of the praying mantis, a case of convergent evolution.