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THE BIOLOGY OF STAGMOMANTIS CAROLINA.* 



Phil Rau and Nellie Rau. 



Introduction. Na«v v 



In attempting to carry on experimental studies on the '^^^'^ 



color and color changes of Stagmomantis Carolina, we 

 found it necessary to learn more than has hitherto been 

 recorded concerning many of the simple facts of the in- 

 sect's life history. The following pages embody the 

 knowledge gleaned from three summers' observations 

 on the biology of a good many hundreds of living in- 

 sects, either free in the garden or in captivity under 

 individual observ ition. 



The insect was first mentioned by Linnaeus in 1763, 

 and after parading under a goodly number of generic 

 and specific names, is today known as Stagmomantis 

 Carolina, belonging to the order Orthoptera and the 

 family Mantidae.^ 



Distribution. 



The family Mantidae is for the most part tropical. 

 Only two species of this genus are at present known in 

 the United States. Our species is found from Florida 

 to Arizona, north to Maryland, Southern Illinois, Mis- 

 souri, Kansas and Utah.- Henshaw (1900) reports it 

 from Rhode Island, and Baker (1905) from California.' 

 That the species seems to be gradually working its way 

 northward is evidenced by Rathvon 's Report ( 1862 ) . He 

 says that egg-cases brought from Maryland to Lancas- 

 ter City, Pa., brought forth their broods and this intro- 

 duced population persisted in this climate for two or three 

 consecutive seasons, withstanding the temperature of 



♦Presented before The Academy of Science of St. Louis, May 20, 1912. 

 ^ Some of the common names are mule-killer, devil's-horse, rear-horse, 



camel-cricket, devil's-riding-horse, Carolina mantis, praying mantis. For 



scientific names, see bibliography. 



^ Fide Scudder. 



^ Also reported from Mexico, Central and South America. See bibli- 

 ography. 



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