| Amelidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ameles sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Amelidae Giglio-Tos, 1919 |
The mantis family Amelidae [1] was previously placed in the family Mantidae. Species have been recorded from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
The Mantodea Species File [2] lists a single subfamily Amelinae, comprising two tribes:
Mantidae is one of the largest families in the order of praying mantises, based on the type species Mantis religiosa; however, most genera are tropical or subtropical. Historically, this was the only family in the order, and many references still use the term "mantid" to refer to any mantis. Technically, however, "mantid" refers only to members of the family Mantidae, and not the 14 remaining families of mantises. Some of the most recent classifications have promoted a number of the mantid subfamilies to the rank of family, e.g. Iridopterygidae, Sibyllidae, Tarachodidae, Thespidae, and Toxoderidae, while other classifications have reduced the number of subfamilies without elevating to higher rank.
Eremiaphilidae is a small Old World family of praying mantids, based on the type genus Eremiaphila. As part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy, this family now contains the subfamily Tarachodinae, which includes tribes and genera previously placed in the now obsolete Tarachodidae.
Hymenopodidae is a family of the order Mantodea (mantises), which contains six subfamilies. Some of the species in this family mimic flowers and are found camouflaged among them; these are called flower mantises. Their coloration is aggressive mimicry, luring prey to approach close enough to be seized and eaten.
Liturgusidae is a family of praying mantids in the new (2019) Neotropical superfamily Acanthopoidea. A substantial number of genera, previously placed here, have recently been moved to the new or revived other families:
Ameles is a wide-ranging genus of praying mantises represented in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Thespidae is a family of Neotropical insects in the order Mantodea. Following a major revision of this order in 2019, the old-world subfamilies Haaniinae and Hoplocoryphinae, previously placed here, have been upgraded to family level.
Toxoderidae is a family of praying mantises.
Nanomantinae is a praying mantis subfamily in the new (2019) family Nanomantidae. The monotypic tribe Nanomantini was placed here, but several genera have been reassigned.
Deroplatyinae is a subfamily in the new (2019) family Deroplatyidae, containing species found in South-East Asia.
Miomantidae is a family of praying mantises in the order Mantodea.
Epaphroditidae is a family of the Mantodea, containing species found in Africa and the Caribbean. Before 2015, it had been placed as the subfamily Epaphroditinae, in the Hymenopodidae, but is now excluded.
Deiphobe is an Asian genus of praying mantids: in the family Rivetinidae.
Iridopteryginae is a subfamily of mantids in the family Gonypetidae. There are two tribes, distributed in tropical Asia.
The Haaniidae are a new (2019) family of praying mantids, based on the type genus Haania. The first use of "Haaniidae" was by Giglio-Tos and it was revived as part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy; genera in the subfamily Haaniinae havie been moved here from the family Thespidae.
The Hierodulinae are a subfamily of praying mantids, originally used by Brunner von Wattenwyl. It was restored as part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy, and now contains genera previously placed elsewhere in the family Mantidae.
The Nanomantidae are a new (2019) family of praying mantises, based on the type genus Nanomantis. As part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy, genera and tribes have been moved here, substantially replacing the old family Iridopterygidae.
The Gonypetidae are a new (2019) family of praying mantids, based on the type genus Gonypeta. The first use of "Gonypetidae" was by Westwood and it has been revived as part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy; the subfamily Iridopteryginae having been moved here from the obsolete family Iridopterygidae. The Gonypetinae include Asian genera transferred from the obsolete taxa Amelinae and Liturgusidae.
The Deroplatyidae are a new (2019) family of praying mantises, based on the type genus Deroplatys. As part of a major revision of mantis taxonomy, the subfamily Deroplatyinae has been moved here from the previously-structured family Mantidae.
The Majangidae are a revived (2019) family of praying mantids from Madagascar.
Liturgusa is the type genus of praying mantises of the family Liturgusidae. The genus consists of more than twenty species with a Neotropical distribution.
