20 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



near the extremity of the 

 thighs. There is a similar, 

 but wavy, expansion 

 around the hind - body ; 

 and behind the head there 

 is a broad, flat, rhomb- 

 shaped shield. The whole 

 upper surface of the living 

 rose-leaf Insect is green, 

 but the under surface 

 presents an entirely 

 different appearance. 

 From this aspect the ex- 

 pansion behind the head 

 is " a clear, pale lavender- 

 violet, with a faint pink 

 bloom along the edges of 

 the leaf, so that this 

 portion of the Insect has 

 the exact appearance of 

 the corolla of a plant, a 



fc%, ^fP' ■ M^C' " ' >i^^H floral simulation which is 



* * Jm^^k Ww /rf '^JM ' ' ^^^1 perfected by the presence 



of a dark, blackish-brown 

 spot in the centre, . . . 

 which mimics the opening 

 to the tube of a corolla." 

 Dr. J. Anderson, from 

 whom we have quoted, 

 goes on to sa\' that " A 

 favourite position of this 

 Insect is to hang head 

 downwards among a mass of green foliage, and, when it does so, it generally 

 remains almost motionless, but, at intervals, evinces a swaying movement, as 

 of a flower touched by a gentle breeze. . . . The object of the bright 

 colouring of the under surface is evident, its purpose being to act as a decoy 

 to Insects, which, mistaking it for a corolla, fly directly into the expectant, serrated, 

 sabre-like, raptorial arms of the simulator." Lefroy, in his " Indian Insect 

 Life," calls it the orchid mantis. .< 



But this rose-leaf Insect, after a long innings as the most remarkable member 

 of the mantis family, is likely to take second place as a flower-imitator after Mr. 

 Annandale's revelations of the habits of the kanchong,! a Malayan mantis. In 

 Lower Siam there is a plant known locally as the Straits rliododendron,- though it 

 is no relation of the rhododendrons. One day Mr. Nelson Annandale was attracted 

 1 nymcnopus bicornis. ' - .Mclastoma polyanthum. 



Photo by] 



The DiAnuLKJAL Spectre. 



[Harold Bastin. 



This mantis, which comes from Africa, is so named from its habit of posing to resemble 

 a violet-coloured flower, and then destroying the Insects that are attracted by the counter- 

 feit resemblance. Its habits are very much like those of the rose-leaf mantis. 

 whose photograph is shown on page iH. 



