#mantidflies

gorgeous little mantidlfy! despite their name they are not related to the praying mantis, but are part of the order Neuroptera along with antlions and lacewings-- a great example of convergent evolution!

the flash makes their eyes look like little galaxies ✨

Wasp? Mantis? Fly? The wasp mantidfly is none of the above! This species is actually a member of the family neuroptera, or nerve-winged insects, which is also host to a range of other falsly named insects including owlflies (neither owls nor flies), antlions (neither ants nor lions) and lacewings (wings are not made of lace). However, the wasp mantidfly does predate on other arthropods, and will adopt a striking posture when threatened.

Peculiar Eggs

I thought these masses were a slime mold at first. Apparently they're Mantidfly eggs.

Unidentified, family Mantispidae

Slime-mold-like Eggs of a Mantidfly

Unidentified, family Mantispidae

so, since i reblogged that mantidfly post mentioning that i was going to create a hollow knight mantidfly, here they are!

no name, just. awkward misplaced mantidfly who just wants everyone to stay away

put the original drawing, along with a ‘screenshot’ of them in nosk’s cave. considered altering the wings, maybe even making them a filter on the background or something, but decided not to.

ok so i was looking for photos of lacewings and yeah nope i did not need to know that a flying mantis was a thing