| Vespamantoida wherleyi | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantoididae |
| Genus: | Vespamantoida |
| Species: | V. wherleyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Vespamantoida wherleyi Svenson & Rodrigues, 2019 | |
Vespamantoida wherleyi is a species of praying mantis that mimics a wasp. It was discovered in 2013 at a research station near the Amazon River in northern Peru. The discovery resulted in erecting a new genus, Vespamantoida . [1] This mantis has a red/orange colored body and black pattern. Besides the coloration, it has the body shape of and displayed walking and antenna movements similar to a wasp. This mantis is closely related to Mantoida toulgoeti as both species have a distinct foreleg synapomorphy. [2]