| Comment number: |
|
1 |
| By: |
|
Mervyn Mansell |
| Comment: |
|
possibly Afromantispa tenella, but cannot be sure. This species is very widespread in central and southern Africa. Known from DRC, Malawi, SA. Mantispids have a unique parasitic life strategy, the known biologies show them to be parasitic on spider's eggs. Females lay large batches of eggs and the first stage larva is called a triungulin and actively seeks out spiders that carry them back to their nests. Here the larvae undergo hypermetamorphosis and become grub-like with limited mobility. They feed on eggs and young spiderlings and cannot leave the nest, so the size of the resulting adult is dependent on the amount of food within that nest. |
| Date: |
|
2016-01-09 17:35:16 |
| Species name: |
|
FAMILY Mantispidae -- Unidentified Mantispidae |
| Species code: |
|
326160 |
|
