ORTHOPTERA 



59 



While our species are all wingless, except Aplopus mayeri, found in 

 southern Florida, many exotic species are furnished with wings; and with 

 some of these the wings resemble leaves. Among the more remarkable 

 of the leaf-insects, as they are known, are those of the genus Phyllium 

 (Fig. ioo), the members of which occur in the tropical regions of the 

 Old World. 



Family Mantid^e 



The Praying Mantes or Soothsayers 



Certainly they are pious-looking fellows, with their front 

 legs clasped together in front of their meek, alert faces, and 

 it is no wonder that they are called praying mantes. But 

 the only prayer that could ever enter the mind of a mantis 

 would be that some unwary insect might come near enough 

 for him to grab it with his hypocritical claws, and so get a 

 meal. 



The praying mantes are easily recognized by the unusual 

 form of the pro thorax and of the first pair of legs (Fig. 102). 

 The prothorax is elongated and the front legs are large and 

 fitted for seizing prey. The coxa? of the front legs are very 

 long, and the femora and tibiae of these legs are armed with 

 spines ; the tibia of each leg can be folded back against the 

 femur so that the spines of the two will securely hold any 

 insect seized by the praying mantis. 



With some species the wings resemble leaves of plants in 

 form and coloring. 



All of the species are carnivorous, feeding on other in- 

 sects. They do not pursue their prey but wait patiently 

 with the front legs raised like uplifted hands in prayer, until 

 it comes within reach, when they seize it. 



The eggs of the Mantidas are encased in chambered 

 ooth ecas, which are usually fastened to the stems or twigs 

 of plants (Fig. 101). 



Most of the members of this family are tropical insects; a few species, 

 probably less than twenty, live in the southern half of the United States; 

 and one of our native species, Stagmomantis Carolina (Fig. 102), is found 

 as far north as Maryland and southern Indiana. 



Fig. ioi. — Egg- 

 cases of Stagmoman- 

 tis Carolina. (From 

 Riley.) 



