213 f^f . , 



NOTE ON THE LARVA OF MANTISPA. 



By R. T. Lewis, F.R.M.S. 



(^Bead January IWi, 1911.) 



The difference between the mature specimens of the family 

 jVEantidae and those of the sub-family Mantispidae is not very 

 obvious to the casual observer, whose attention would be at once 

 attracted by the resemblance between the elongated prothorax, 

 the curiously shaped head with its prominent compound eyes, and 

 the remarkable raptorial front legs. These latter consist of a 

 very long coxa, a femur of nearly equal length, armed on the 

 inner side with a double row of sharp spines, and a tibia similarly 

 armed and articulated so as to close down upon the femur in such 

 a way that when closed the spines of the two interlock and 

 render escape impossible to a victim once caught between them. 

 These peculiarities being common to both Mantis and Mantispa, 

 it is not surprising that the earlier entomologists classed them 

 together and placed both in the same order. A more careful 

 inspection will, however, show that ther6 are important differences 

 between them, for whilst the structure of the wings undoubtedly 

 places the Mantis family amongst the Orthoptera, the venation 

 of the wings in Mantispa as certainly determines that it belongs 

 to the Neuroptera. Both are predatory insects, both seize and 

 feed upon their prey in a similar manner ; and though imagination 

 has regarded their strange attitude when watching for victims as 

 being devotional, and the idea has been perpetuated by such 

 scientific appellations as Mantis religiosa and Iris oratoria, the 

 name '' Praying Mantis " should in truth be " Preying." Et is, 

 however, with the eggs and larvae that the microscopist is chiefly 

 <3oncerned, and when these are considered the difference between 



