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Gladiators
Order Mantophasmatodea
The most recently described insect order, discovered in 2002. Small wingless predatory insects found only in Africa, sometimes called heelwalkers.
Species in this Order (4)
Austrophasmatidae
Endangered
Austrophasma caledonense
Austrophasma caledonense
A heelwalker from the Caledon district of South Africa. Females are larger than males and deposit eg...
Mantophasmatidae
Data Deficient
Gladiator Bug
Mantophasma zephyra
One of the first species described in the newest insect order Mantophasmatodea, erected in 2002. A s...
Austrophasmatidae
Endangered
Karoophasma biedouwense
Karoophasma biedouwense
A gladiator insect endemic to the Biedouw Valley in South Africa. It is nocturnal and hunts among lo...
Mantophasmatidae
Near Threatened
Tyrannophasma gladiator
Tyrannophasma gladiator
A South African heelwalker named for its fierce predatory habits. Males drum their abdomens on plant...