Thespis (Genus)

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

• Mantises (Order Mantodea)

• Suborder Eumantodea

• Infraorder Schizomantodea

Mantises in the genus Thespis are small, slender, and dull-colored mantids known for pronounced sexual dimorphism, where the females are wingless and the males have functional wings. Thespis mantises are typically found in environments with dense vegetation, such as meadows, gardens, and pine stands, where they are ambush predators. They use their raptorial forelegs to capture prey, which can include insects up to half their own body length.