Showcase Australia

Spaminta minjerribae, Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer

Spaminta minjerribae

NeuropteraDitaxis biseriate Spaminta minjerribae

Spaminta minjerribae is in the family Mantispidae, order Neuroptera, a member of insects known commonly as mantidflies. This species are found in eastern Australia, current observations on Atlas of Living Australia stretches from Queensland, through New South Wales and Victoria.

Spaminta minjerribae, Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer
Spaminta minjerribae (Mantid Fly), Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer

The adult Spaminta minjerribae, catch and eat their prey in a similar fashion to the praying mantis, using the raptorial forelegs and then consuming them with their chewing mouth parts.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Neuroptera
  • Superfamily: Mantispoidea
  • Family: Mantispidae
  • Genus: Spaminta
  • Species: Spaminta minjerribae

Footnote & References

  1. Spaminta minjerribae. Photographs, Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer
  2. Spaminta minjerribae Lambkin, 1986, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Spaminta minjerribae

NeuropteraDitaxis biseriate Spaminta minjerribae

InsectsInsects Life Cycle… Bees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Mantodea Moths Neuroptera Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub