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Glite Dictionary
mantispid

mantispid

9.9
An insect that looks like a mantis whose young live in spider or wasp nests and eat eggs
  • noun
  • /ˈmæntɪspɪd/
  • Specialized
: mantispida
  • The mantispid is easily mistaken for a praying mantis due to its raptorial forelegs.

Examples

  • Larvae of the mantispid are known to infiltrate the egg sacs of spiders and feed on their contents.

  • Researchers discovered a new species of mantispid in the tropical rainforest.

  • The mantispid is fascinating to observe.

  • Many mantispids are found in tropical regions.

  • The larvae of the mantispid infiltrate the egg sacs of spiders, making them effective predators.

  • Researchers discovered a new species of mantispid that is unique to the Amazon rainforest.

  • The mantispid resembles a praying mantis but is recognized for its distinct habits and life cycle.

Surface Forms

mantispid singular
mantispids plural

Morphology

mantispid = mantis (semi-transparent) = mantisp + id

Formally built from a taxonomic stem corresponding to 'mantis' plus the zoological suffix '-id'; the relation to 'mantis' is clear but the taxonomic suffix and stem alteration are specialist.

Etymology

Mantispid comes from mantis (the praying mantis) plus the ending -id, which means 'related to' or 'like'. So a mantispid is an insect that 'looks like' a mantis but is its own kind, and its young often live inside spider and wasp nests and feed there.