Insect Systematics & Evolution (2020) DOI 10.1163/1876312X-bja10002 brill.com/ise Review A review of the biology and biogeography of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) Louwrens Pieter Snymana,b,d,*, Michael Ohlc, Christian Walter Werner Pirka and Catherine Lynne Solea aDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood road, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa bDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Soutpan road, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa, 0110 cMuseum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstraße. 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany dCurrent address: Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, South Africa *Corresponding author, e-mail:
[email protected] Abstract Adult Mantispidae are general predators of arthropods equipped with raptorial forelegs. The three larval instars display varying degrees of hypermetamorphic ontogeny. The larval stages exhibit a remarkable life history ranging from specialised predators of nest-building hymenopteran larvae and pupa, to specialised predators of spider-eggs, to possible generalist predators of immature insects. Noteworthy advances in our understanding of the biology of Mantispidae has come to light over the past two decades which are compiled and addressed in this review. All interactions of mantispids with other arthropods are tabled and their biology critically discussed and compared to the current classification of the taxon. Additionally, the ambigous systematics within Mantispidae and between Mantispidae and its sister groups, Rhachiberothi- dae and Berotidae, is reviewed. Considering the biology, systematics, distribution of higher taxonomic levels and the fossil record, the historical biogeography of the group is critically discussed with Gondwana as the epicenter of MantispidaeUncorrected radiation. Proofs Keywords mantis-flies; mantidflies; life history; spider-insect interactions; mimesis Overview Neuroptera are a relatively small order of holometabolous insects that are thought to have originated during the Permian Period (Engel et al.