June 22nd, 2006
unexpected arrival of a mythical beast
Riddle: What has the head and forelimbs of a Praying Mantis, and the body and hind limbs of a Paper Wasp?
Solution: the Brown Mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea)
Yesterday, I discovered my favourite mythical beast on a blade of grass in the meadow beside the woods. It took me quite by surprise as I hadn’t expected to see one for about another two weeks. Last year, on July 7th and 8th, about two dozen Brown Mantidflies appeared on the flowers of Common Milkweed plants growing in the oldfield pastures here at the farm. For two days, they wandered about over the flowers. I’m not entirely sure what they were up to — maybe they were attracted by the blooms which were full of nectar and covered with insects that might have made suitable prey. Or, perhaps they came to lay eggs that I didn’t see. Whatever the reason, they soon vanished as quickly as they came.
If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you’ll know that I’m interested in phenology — the study of cyclic or seasonal natural phenomena. I keep photographic records of the arrival and development of many creatures – particularly insects. This year, the Common Milkweed seems to be a little ahead in its development compared to 2005. Many plants have flowers, and some of those are racing towards being full blown — the stage that seemed to attract last year’s aggregation of Mantidflies. It will be interesting to see if they are a little early this year. My guess is that I may find a few more over the next few days.
They’re odd-looking insects, reminding me of a hybrid mythical beast — a Harpy, or a Sphinx. They’re about the size and colour of a Paper Wasp, but with an elongated, neck-like pronotum and a pair of wickedly equipped fore legs. Tightly folded when not in use, the legs look innocuous enough, but once extended, sharp spurs and sickle-like “claws” are revealed (click on above photo to see larger view). You might catch a glimpse of the extended legs when the Mantidfly is moving about, or if it becomes defensive. In the blink of an eye, these insects will grasp a leaf, or make a quick slash at a threatening object, before curling their limbs back to the folded position (see below photo). The Brown Mantidfly has dark-bordered wings which are held angled outwards to mimic those of a wasp. Their appearance may seem a little threatening, but I’ve found them to be fairly docile. However, I haven’t yet tempted one to strike at my finger with its forelegs as I suspect it could actually inflict some small damage. Although they look wasp-like, Mantidflies are members of the Family Mantispidae, which belongs to the Order Neuroptera — a group of insects with wings that have many conspicuous veins.
If you’re interested in viewing more photos of these fascinating insects, I have posted quite a few of last year’s photos in my online Neuroptera Gallery. There is also a photo of an insect with its forelegs partially extended. That shot was taken after the Mantidfly had been chilled slightly in the refrigerator and then photographed through a glass petri dish.
