Brown Mantidfly

NEUROPTERA
The order Neuroptera includes only around 335 recognized species in North America. The mouths of these insects are designed for chewing and vision from the compound eyes is thought to be good. Body shapes are typically long and slender and wings transparent. They can be found most anywhere outdoors, from forests to deserts, and feed on a diet of pollen / nectar and other insects. Larvae can be found on branches of trees or near the roots of plants on the ground. The Hemiptera order covers Antlions, Lacewings, Mantidflies, and Owlflies. Antlions, in particular, can be sometimes mistaken for Dragonflies.

Common Name: "Brown Mantidfly"
Other Names: "Matisfly; Wasp Mantidfly"
Scientific Name: Climaciella brunnea

TAXONOMIC BREAKDOWN:
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Climaciella brunnea.

Kingdom: Animalia

 Phylum: Arthropoda

  Class: Insecta

   Order: Neuroptera

    Family: Mantispidae

     Genus: Climaciella

      Species: brunnea

The Brown Mantidfly is also known by these other names:

Matisfly :: Wasp Mantidfly

The Brown Mantidfly has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:

yellow    black    brown    transparent    flying    winged    wings    striped    outdoors    six-legged    garden    helpful    eyes    abdomen    large

The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.

Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Brown Mantidfly. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.

Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Brown Mantidfly. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.

The Brown Mantidfly can be found in the following Tennessee counties:

Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson.