A NEW BENEFICIAL INSECT IN AMERICA. 

 THE COMMON EUROPEAN PRAYING MANTIS, 



Mantis religiosa Linnaeus. 

 Order Orthoptera ; family Mantidae. 



We too often forget tliat many kinds of insects are beneficial to 

 man, either by helloing him destroy his insect pests or, like the bnsy 

 bee, visiting his blossoms and often leaving an insurance policy in 

 the shape of tiny grains of pollen, which insures a crop of fruit 

 that otherwise might be extremely uncertain. It is therefore with 

 nnich pleasure that we are able to announce the advent of a new 

 beneficial insect into New York State. It this case the insect was 

 doubtless accidentally introduced or imported from Europe, and 

 curiously enough, although it has inhabited Europe, Asia and Africa 

 doubtless for centuries, it has apparently never before obtained a 

 foot-hold on the American continent-. In these days of rapid com- 

 merce between all nations of the globe, one can scarcely wonder 

 that many insects are carried in various ways from their native 

 home, and some of them often succeed in establishing themselves in 

 far distant lands. Many of our worst insect pests, like the cabbage 

 l)utterfly, the pear psylla, and the Hessian fly, were foreigners which 

 unfortunately are now too thoroughly naturalized in our country. 



In the case of insects injurious to fruits, the American nursery- 

 men are often justly accused of importing these pests, and especially 

 of spreading them broadcast over the country. Tliat our nursery- 

 men have also brought beneficial insects into the country must not 

 be forgotten, however; although the beneficial effects of these 

 insect friends are very meagre compared with tlie losses inflicted by 

 the introduced foreign insect pests. We are undoubtedly indebted 

 to the nurserymen for the importation of the wonderfully interest 



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