# Dicromantispa Interrupta Meet Dicromantispa interrupta, a fascinating and dramatic member of the mantidfly family Mantispidae. Often called the interrupted mantidfly, this insect represents an incredible example of evolutionary convergence. While its raptorial forelegs and elongated prothorax make it look remarkably like a miniature praying mantis, it is actually a member of the order Neuroptera, making it more closely related to lacewings and antlions. This tiny predator is known for its wasp-like coloration and a specialized life cycle that links its survival directly to spiders. During its larval stage, Dicromantispa interrupta undergoes hypermetamorphosis, where larvae actively search for a female spider to board, waiting for her to spin an egg sac so they can feed on the eggs inside. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Typically found in deciduous woodlands, forest edges, grasslands, and fields where spiders and small insects are abundant. ![Dicromantispa Interrupta](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/4280659/medium.jpeg) Photo: Annika Lindqvist, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/4280659) ## Appearance Dicromantispa interrupta features an elongated, amber to reddish-brown prothorax resembling a neck, with a total body length ranging from 1 to 3 centimeters. Its head is equipped with large, compound eyes and short antennae, while its striking raptorial forelegs are decorated with dark banding. Its wings are membranous and transparent, spanning up to 5 centimeters, and are characterized by a distinct dark, interrupted brownish-red band along the leading edge. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Neuroptera - **Family:** Mantispidae - **Genus:** Dicromantispa ## Interesting facts - Despite looking almost identical to a praying mantis, mantidflies belong to an entirely different insect order, Neuroptera, making them closer relatives of lacewings. - If a mantidfly larva boards a male spider instead of a female, it will wait on him and transfer to a female spider during mating. - To deter predators, they mimic not only the appearance of paper wasps but also their jerky walking pattern and wing-flicking behavior. ## Special abilities - **Wasp Mimicry:** Adults exhibit Batesian mimicry, sporting yellow, brown, and black patterns and wing-shaking behaviors that make them resemble stinging paper wasps to deter predators. - **Raptorial Strike:** Possesses highly modified, muscular forelegs that can snap shut in milliseconds to snag agile prey like flies and moths. - **Phoretic Boarding:** Larvae can locate and board passing spiders, hitching a ride and feeding on the spider's hemolymph until an egg sac is produced. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 1-3 cm - **Wingspan:** 2-5 cm - **Weight:** 0.0001-0.0005 kg - **Lifespan:** 1 years - **Clutch Size:** 100-1000 - **Incubation:** 10-14 days ## Diet & Feeding Adults are active predators of small insects, while the specialized larvae feed exclusively on the eggs within spider egg sacs. - **Age differences:** Larvae are internal or external parasites of spiders and their egg sacs, whereas adults are free-living aerial predators. - **Primary Foods:** Aphids, Fruit flies, Small moths, Spider eggs, Spider hemolymph - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Parasite:** Rabid Wolf Spider (*Rabidosa rabida*) — Larvae parasitize the egg sacs of this wolf spider, occasionally boarding the mother first. - **Hunts:** Common Fruit Fly (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — Adults hunt and consume these small flies on vegetation. - **Eaten by:** [Carolina Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-chickadee) (*Poecile carolinensis*) — Preyed upon by insectivorous birds nesting in forest margins. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dicromantispa Interrupta? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Dicromantispa Interrupta? 1-3 cm ### What is Dicromantispa Interrupta's wingspan? 2-5 cm ### How much does Dicromantispa Interrupta weigh? 0.0001-0.0005 kg ### How long does Dicromantispa Interrupta live? 1 years ### What does Dicromantispa Interrupta eat? Adults are active predators of small insects, while the specialized larvae feed exclusively on the eggs within spider egg sacs. ### Where is Dicromantispa Interrupta usually found? Typically found in deciduous woodlands, forest edges, grasslands, and fields where spiders and small insects are abundant. ### How does Dicromantispa Interrupta hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texas-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Dicromantispa Interrupta: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dicromantispa-interrupta)