178 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '14 



Holotype, male, Hazleton, Pa., August 7, 1909, (Dr. Dietz), 

 Type No. 6057. 



Paratype: i male with same data. 



This species comes close to both piligera, Stenh., and zos- 

 terae Haliday, but differs in venation from both of those spe- 

 cies. 



Mantis religiosa Linnaeus, in Rochester, New York, in 1918 



(Orthop.) 



One day, early in September, while collecting some Colias philodice, 

 etc., I was amazed to find a large female mantis. I would not have 

 observed it had it not been for a Xylocopa virginica which I was trans- 

 ferring from my net to the killing bottle, and in doing so, knelt on 

 the ground. This must have aroused the mantis from its hiding place. 

 Being unaware of its habits, I picked up the specimen, but dropped it 

 just as quickly, being pierced by the fore legs, which gave me a swol- 

 len finger for several days. The females hide under long grasses, etc., 

 and to collect them they must be aroused from their hiding places. 



They vary greatly in color. Some individuals are almost gray, while 

 others are green, yellow, pale brown or dark brown. 



The males resemble a katydid in their flight, and differ very greatly 

 from the females in regard to habits. They can be found flying from 

 bush to bush, but are by no means common. 



The species interested me so much that I wrote to Mr. A. N. Cau- 

 dell, U. S. Nat. Mus., Washington, D. C., for its identification, etc. It 

 proved to be Mantis religiosa L., introduced into this vicinity some 

 years ago. As it is an insect of predaceous habits, eating other in- 

 sects, etc., it should be therefore protected. A few beneficial insects 

 may be destroyed by it, but, on the whole, it is to be regarded as a 

 friend. 



After becoming aware of their habits, I had no trouble in finding 

 them in considerable numbers. In all, I must have taken 200 or more, 

 two-thirds of which are females. The males are very slender, and 

 resemble Stagmomantis Carolina very closely, being about i3/J to 2 inches 

 in length. The females measure from 2*4 to 2 l / 2 inches, and are 

 much stouter in form. 



I found a small quantity of egg-masses generally attached to the 

 weeds or grasses, within two or three inches from the ground. They 

 measure from i% to 1^4 inches in length. I shall try to raise these 

 and take all possible notes. Should I be fortunate enough to get the 

 complete metamorphosis, I will publish the results for the sake of 

 some of our collectors. ROBERT SCHMALTZ, 319 Central Park, Ro- 

 chester, N. Y. 



