Mantid-parasite
Guides
Masiphya
Masiphya is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1891. The genus contains at least ten described species distributed across the Americas. One species, M. confusa, has been documented as a parasitoid of the Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina), with field parasitization rates exceeding 80% in some populations. The genus name Masiphya manteophaga refers to its association with mantid hosts.
Podagrion
Podagrion is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Torymidae that exclusively parasitize mantid egg cases (oothecae). Adults measure 2–3 mm and possess distinctive raptorial hind legs that mimic their mantis hosts, along with elongated ovipositors for penetrating oothecae. The genus exhibits a near-cosmopolitan distribution with strongest representation in Afrotropical, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Podagrion demonstrates complex reproductive adaptations including multivoltine life cycles, phoretic oviposition behavior, and frequent sib-mating facilitated by limited dispersal.