Gladiators
Order Mantophasmatodea
6 speciesThe most recently described insect order, discovered in 2002. Small wingless predatory insects found only in Africa, sometimes called heelwalkers.
Species in this Order
Austrophasma caledonense
Austrophasma caledonense
A heelwalker from the Caledon district of South Africa. Females are larger than males and deposit eg...
Cederberg Heelwalker
Austrophasma cederbergense
A predatory heelwalker found in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. It is greenish-brown and we...
Gladiator Bug
Mantophasma zephyra
One of the first species described in the newest insect order Mantophasmatodea, erected in 2002. A s...
Karoophasma biedouwense
Karoophasma biedouwense
A gladiator insect endemic to the Biedouw Valley in South Africa. It is nocturnal and hunts among lo...
Tanzanian Heelwalker
Tanzaniophasma subsolana
Known only from a single museum specimen from Tanzania, this enigmatic heelwalker represents the onl...
Tyrannophasma gladiator
Tyrannophasma gladiator
A South African heelwalker named for its fierce predatory habits. Males drum their abdomens on plant...