Entomology Class: Insects

Order: Mantises

Mantises

Latin: Mantodea — Relevance to Fly Fishing:

Mantises are predatory insects with raptorial legs, known for their distinct, prayer-like stance and their ability to turn their heads.

Mantises (Latin: Mantodea)
Mantises (Latin: Mantodea) illustration Mantises (Latin: Mantodea) illustration

Where you can find Mantises

On this map you see where there were observations of Mantises around the world. This will give you an idea of the global distribution of this class. Note that a class can have many different families, and thousands of species.

Years 2000 until now, source: GBIF

Diversity and distribution

The insect class Mantodea, commonly known as praying mantises, is a group of predatory insects consisting of over 2,400 known species. These insects are characterized by their elongated bodies, raptorial front legs, and large, triangular heads with highly mobile eyes. 

Mantodea insects can be found in a wide range of countries across the globe, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Their distribution extends across parts of North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Praying mantises typically inhabit a range of environments, including forests, grasslands, and even urban areas.

Life cycles of Mantodea

The life cycle of praying mantises consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The duration of each stage varies among species and can be influenced by factors such as temperature and humidity.

Female mantises lay their eggs in a protective case called an ootheca, which is typically attached to a plant or other substrate. Upon hatching, the nymphs closely resemble the adult form but are smaller and lack fully developed wings. As they grow, nymphs undergo multiple molts before ultimately reaching adulthood. Adult praying mantises are predators, feeding on a variety of insects and occasionally small vertebrates.

Mantodea and fly fishing

Mantodea insects are not typically considered a primary food source for fish, and their relevance to fly fishing is limited. However, their presence near water sources may occasionally make them a target for some fish species. Although Mantis patterns are not produced on a large scale that other more common flies are, you can find them if you search for 'Praying Mantis' or just 'Mantis' flies.

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Other orders in the class Insects

Each order has an indication of its relevance to fly fishing:
= Not so relevant
= Somewhat relevant
= Most relevant

Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies

Megaloptera

Ants, Bees, and Wasps

Hymenoptera

Beetles

Coleoptera

Booklice and Barklice

Psocoptera

Bristletails

Archaeognatha

Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera

Caddisflies

Trichoptera

Cockroaches and Termites

Blattodea

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Odonata

Earwigs

Dermaptera

Fleas

Siphonaptera

Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids

Orthoptera

Lacewings, Antlions, and Owlflies

Neuroptera

Mayflies

Ephemeroptera

Scorpionflies

Mecoptera

Snakeflies

Raphidioptera

Stick Insects and Leaf Insects

Phasmida

Stoneflies

Plecoptera

Thrips

Thysanoptera

True Bugs

Hemiptera

True Flies

Diptera

Twisted-Winged Parasites

Strepsiptera

Webspinners

Embioptera

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