Thespis

Serville, 1831

Species Guides

Thespis parva(Slender Prairie Mantis)

Thespis is a of mantises in the Thespidae, order Mantodea. These insects belong to the tribe Thespini within the Thespinae. The genus has been documented through over 1,400 observations on iNaturalist. in this genus are predatory insects characterized by their forelegs used for capturing prey.

Thespis parva Illustrations of Exotic Entomology II 39 (cropped) 2 by Plates: Dru Drury (1725–1803). Text: John Obadiah Westwood (1805–1893). Used under a Public domain license.

Thespis parva Illustrations of Exotic Entomology II 39 (cropped) by Plates: Dru Drury (1725–1803). Text: John Obadiah Westwood (1805–1893). Used under a Public domain license.

Illustrations of Exotic Entomology II 39 by Plates: Dru Drury (1725–1803). Text: John Obadiah Westwood (1805–1893). Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Thespis: //ˈθɛspɪs//

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Identification

Members of Thespis can be distinguished from other by their placement within the tribe Thespini. Specific diagnostic features for the genus require examination of genitalia and other morphological characters typical of Thespidae. Identification to level generally requires knowledge of mantid .

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Name origin

The name Thespis derives from the ancient Greek actor Thespis (6th century BC), traditionally considered the first person to appear on stage as a character in a play rather than speaking as himself. The name is the origin of the English word 'thespian', meaning actor.

Taxonomic note

The name Thespis has been used in multiple taxonomic contexts. NCBI incorrectly lists Thespis as a plant in Asteraceae (authority DC., 1833); this appears to be an erroneous entry. The valid zoological usage for the mantis genus is Thespis Serville, 1831.