162 Forty-first Report on tee State Museum. 



potato beetles in one night, leaving only the wing-cases and parts of the 



legs. 



It follows from the above statement of habits, that wherever this insect 



occurs, either in the egg or ima;go state, it is well deserving of being 



spared from the indiscriminate destruction usually extended to all of the 



insect world, in the mistaken idea that only harm can come from this 



class of animated nature. The number of beneficial insects is very large — 



by far too large to attempt their enumeration. There are entire families 



which are composed of only such species as are of eminent service to 



mankind. 



Other Species of Mantis. 



Figure 67, from "Westwood, represents an European species which is quite 



common in the south 

 of France — the Man- 

 tis religiosa Linn., 

 commonly known as 

 the Prie-Dieu. It is 



regarded as perform- 



"^.-tix/Zzbi^^Si^^^^^'"^:;::^ ''^^^'^'^^^ ing its devotions, 



when it has assumed 

 its usual attitude 

 with uplifted fore- 

 legs, while, in reality 

 Fig. 67.— Mantis RELIGIOSA, of Europe. it is lying in wait 



for its prey. Its conduct at such times has been thus described : 



Settled on the ground, it raises its head and thorax, clasps together the 

 joints of its front legs, and remains thus, motionless for hours together. 

 But only let an imprudent fly come nearly within reach of our devotee, 

 and you will see it stealthily approach it, like a cat who is watching a 

 mouse, and with so much precaution that you can scarcely see that it is 

 moving. Then, all of a sudden, as quick as lightning, it seizes its victim 

 between its legs, provided with sharp spines which cross each other, con- 

 veys it to its mouth and devours it. Our make-believe nun. Preacher, 

 Prie-Dieu, is nothing better than a patient watcher and pitiless destroyer. 

 Mantis oratoria Linn., is another European species, of smaller size, and 

 less commonly met with. A South-American species. Mantis argentina, 

 according to Burmeister, seizes and eats small birds. 



A species of Mantis, not yet determined, has been sent to me, by Mr. "W. 

 E. Walsh, of Benson, Arizona, as feeding on vegetation [?]. It is a more 

 robust form than the M. Carolina. Its fore-wings are leaf-green, quite 

 broad — their breadth being nearly one-half their length. The stigma is 

 merely defined by its elevated margin, not being marked with color as in 

 M. Carolina. The hind-wings are crossed with about fifteen broken bands. 

 The anterior legs are quite stout and more strongly and numerously 

 spined than in Carolina. The prothorax is broad over the base of the fore- 

 legs, and but slightly toothed on the sides. 



In Mr. Scudder's " Catalogue of the Orthoptera of North America," four 

 species of Mantis are named as occurring in the United States, of which I 

 have no knowledge, viz. : Mantis ddoropliaca De Haan, Watertown, N. Y. ; 

 M. geminata Stoll, Georgia or Virginia; 3L inqiiinata Serv., South Caro- 

 lina; and M. phryganoides Serv., New York and Cuba. 



