First Instar Larvae of Mantispids, Mantispa japonica MACLACHLAN and Eumantispa harmandi (NAVAS) (Neuroptera : Mantispidae), Associating with Spiders (Araneae)

The first instar larvae of the mantispids, Mantispa japonica MACLACHLAN and Eumantispa harmandi (NAVAS), were found associating with spiders collected in and around deciduous forests in Osaka, Wakayama, and Nara Prefectures, in central Japan between October 1993 and May 1994. The spiders were juveniles, subadults, or adults classified into 15 species belonging to six families : Thomisidae, Philodromidae, Clubionidae, Salticidae, Agelenidae, and Heteropodidae. The larvae of the two mantispid species wrapped over the body surface around the pedicel of host spiders, but detailed positions were slightly different between the two species : The larvae of M. japonica were associating with spiders collected on plants, and those of E. harmandi were associating with spiders found under stones and fallen trees, and in the litter. Larvae of E. harmandi were also found on specimens of predominantly epigaeic spiders from Gifu, Osaka, and Hyogo Prefectures.