Mantodea
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These insects are sometimes treated as a suborder of Dictyoptera or Orthoptera.

DESCRIPTION:
Mantids are most easily recognizable by their strong raptorial anterior legs and generally slender form. Hispaniolan species commonly collected are approximately 6-8 cm long although worldwide the size range extends to 25 cm at the extreme. All species are carnivorous and parametabolous.

DIVERSITY:
7 families and 1200-2000 species world wide; 20 North American Species

Families:
Chaeteessidae, Metallyticidae. Amorphoscelidae, Eremiaphilidae, Hymenopodidae, Mantidae, Empusidae.

Please browse and download our Field Guides to insect families and check our Caribbean Taxonomic Literature lists for available PDF files.

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