The question of whether mantidflies are related to praying mantises is an interesting one. While the names may suggest a connection, the truth is that mantidflies and praying mantises are not closely related at all. In fact, they belong to completely different insect orders.
Mantidflies are members of the family Mantispidae, which is part of the order Neuroptera. This order includes a variety of insects commonly known as lacewings, antlions, and owlflies. Mantidflies are known for their unique appearance, resembling a cross between a mantis and a fly, hence their name.
On the other hand, praying mantises belong to the order Mantodea. These insects are characterized by their elongated bodies, strong forelegs, and their ability to hold their front legs in a position that resembles prayer. Praying mantises are known for their predatory behavior, often capturing and feeding on other insects.
The distinction between mantidflies and praying mantises becomes even clearer when we consider their evolutionary history. Mantidflies have a much longer evolutionary lineage, with fossils dating back to the Jurassic period. They are believed to have evolved from an ancestral group of neuropterans known as the Berothidae, which are still extant today.
Praying mantises, on the other hand, evolved more recently and are believed to have originated in the Cretaceous period. Their closest relatives are thought to be cockroaches and termites, as they share a common ancestor within the superorder Dictyoptera.
To summarize, while mantidflies and praying mantises may share some superficial similarities in appearance, they are not closely related. Mantidflies belong to the order Neuroptera, while praying mantises belong to the order Mantodea. Their evolutionary histories are distinct, with mantidflies having a longer lineage and a different set of ancestral relatives.