occidentis Banks, 1911Mantispa burquei Provancher, 1875Mantispa denaria Taylor, 1862Mantispa moesta Hagen, 1861Climaciella varia (Erichson, 1839)Symphrasis varia (Erichson, 1839)Mantispa varia Erichson, 1839Mantispa brunnea Say, 1824 Climaciella brunnea, known sometimes by the common names wasp mantidfly, western mantidfly, and brown mantidfly, is a predatory neuropteran insect in the family Mantispidae.

Its raptorial forelegs are similar in shape and function to that of Mantodea; this adaptation has evolved independently in the two groups and is an example of convergent evolution.

Climaciella brunnea is found in Canada, the United States, and as far south as Nicaragua.

Attracted to a male pheromone, groups of C. brunnea will accumulate in areas to breed and feed.

[2] First instar larvae of this species are campodeiform and will use phoretic behavior in an attempt to find an adult spider.

Once attached, they will lift themselves and begin to wave their body back and forth for a short period of time.

Inside, the larva will use its specially adapted sucking tube (made from its maxilla and mandibles) to feed off the spider eggs within the sac.

The first involves the C. brunnea individual curling its abdomen beneath itself, likely mimicking a stinging wasp.

The second defensive behavior is where the mantidfly holds the tip of its abdomen vertically as it begins to move itself in a back and forth motion.