Say's Mantidfly
Dicromantispa sayi
This record describes Dicromantispa sayi (species). Recorded family: Mantispidae. Recorded order: Neuroptera.
Identification and Appearance
Lacks darkened cross-veins near the pterostigma. Has dark brownish-to-black as well as lighter yellowish color forms . has several largely allopatric color forms ( here ) formerly treated as species ( Hoffman 1989 ); the dark forms from east of the Mississippi and northward correspond to the former Mantispa uhleri
Wikipedia reference for Dicromantispa sayi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicromantispa_sayi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
- Superfamily
- Mantispoidea
- Family
- Mantispidae (Mantid Lacewings)
- Subfamily
- Mantispinae
- Genus
- Dicromantispa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. ON; AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI; south to Central America; West Indies
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Eggs; young-larvae; cocoon; pupa; a pharate adult ; an adult male; and an adult female next to cluster of her recently produced short-stalked eggs:
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dicromantispa sayi (Banks, 1897)
About Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Neuroptera, the group containing Dicromantispa sayi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, owlflies) includes ~6,000 described species. Green lacewing larvae are called 'aphid lions' - a single larva can consume up to 200 aphids per week.
Ecological role of the group
Antlion larvae build conical pit traps in sandy soil - an engineering feat studied by physicists for insights into granular mechanics. Adult lacewings are important pollinators of night-blooming flowers.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lacewings are commercially reared and sold as biological pest control agents. The global biological pest control market, which heavily features lacewings, was valued at $6.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $16.4 billion by 2033.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA IPM, biological control market research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Say's Mantidfly (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , Mike Quinn , Aaron Schusteff , v belov , Robert H. Biagi , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Say's Mantidfly
What is Say's Mantidfly?
Say's Mantidfly (Dicromantispa sayi) is a species in the family Mantispidae, within the order Neuroptera.
How big is Say's Mantidfly?
Forewing 9.75 - 16.95 mm ♀; 9.45 - 15.45 mm ♂. Usually smaller than D. interrupta .
How do you identify Say's Mantidfly?
Lacks darkened cross-veins near the pterostigma. Has dark brownish-to-black as well as lighter yellowish color forms .
Where is Say's Mantidfly found?
Range: s. ON; AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI; south to Central America; West Indies
What is the life cycle of a Say's Mantidfly?
Eggs; young-larvae; cocoon; pupa; a pharate adult ; an adult male; and an adult female next to cluster of her recently produced short-stalked eggs: