106 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



common species the body is so thin and thread-hke that it has 

 been given the Latin scientific name, longipes, in deference to 

 its extremely long legs. The resemblance of the walking-stick 

 to the thread-legged bug was impressed upon me by a remark 

 from my junior companion afield. On seeing one of the thread- 

 legged insects for the first time, he exclaimed, "Come quick 

 and see the walking-stick flying." The thread-legged insect 

 mentioned was flying low under the shelter of an apple tree. 



One of these bugs was seen in August on the side of a wooden 

 house, walking slowly upwards in an ungainly manner. When 

 I attempted to take it in my hands it used its little wings in 

 flight with surprising dexterity, though these organs are 

 unusually small and out of proportion to the length of the body. 

 When the insect is flying in mid-air it becomes almost invisible. 

 At rest the wings are very narrowly folded longitudinally on 

 the back, thereby taking up very little space. They appear to 

 occupy a place which corresi)onds with the centre of gravity 

 of the body. The thread-legged bugs are predaceous and forage 

 for insect prey, which often consists of small gnats. In the 

 fall they lay their eggs, one at a time, indiscriminately attaching 

 them to the flat surfaces of walls. According to Wickham * 

 one female may lay as many as nineteen eggs. They are often 

 seen swinging by their legs from the roofs of .sheds. A pecidiar 

 feature of the anatomy of these insects is shown in the modi- 

 fication of the forelegs which are used for grasping their prey. 

 Moreover, one may be deceived at first glance into thinking 

 that the long, peculiarly bent antenna* attached to the head 

 are a pair of legs. This illu.sion arises from the abrupt bending 

 downward of the antenna\ at an angle near the middle. The 

 thread-legged bug is known to the naturalist as Emesa hmgipes. 



In closing I may .suggest that the thin body of this insect 

 may not only serve as protection against its enemies, but also 

 the useful purpose of allowing it to approach its own prey 

 unobserved. 



* Entomological Nnrs. January. 1910, p. 27. 



