NeuropteraDitaxis biseriate Spaminta minjerribae
This is a good example of convergent evolution. This insect looks like the working end of a Preying Mantis (order Mantodea), but is in fact a totally unrelated Mantid Lacewing – Ditaxis biseriata; Order Neuroptera. Cool hey?
Ditaxis biseriata is commonly known as the Mantis Lacewing.
Atlas of Living Australia (as on 21 March 2025), have Ditaxis biseriata observations concentrated on the east coast of Queensland (north and south of Brisbane), down into east coast region of New South Wales (through to Lismore and Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie) and south of Port Macquarie.2
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Neuroptera
- Superfamily: Mantispoidea
- Family: Mantispidae
- Genus: Ditaxis
- Species: Ditaxis biseriate
- Synonym: Mantispa biseriata Westwood, 1852
Footnote & References
- Ditaxis biseriate. Photographs, Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer
- Ditaxis biseriata (Westwood, 1852), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Ditaxis biseriata
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
