PREDATORY INSECTS FREQUENTING THE ORANGE. 



189 



Their inanuer of feeding is very unlike that of other insects, and re- 

 minds one of a monkey eating fruit ; they ai)pear to masticate their food 

 A'ery deliberately before swallowing, biting off a piece from time to time, 

 while they hold it in their claws. 



The head swings upon a very mobile neck, and can be turned so far to 

 the side as to look almost directly backwards over the slioulders. Their 

 quick movements betray an alertness, in striking contrast with the 

 feigned sluggishness of habit. This evidence of watclifulness, while 

 the insect, with forearms folded, and claws clasped in tlie attitude of 

 prayer, renuiins motionless and apparently absorbed in meditation, 

 gives an irresistably comic air of hypocrisy to its actions. These pecu- 

 liar habits were well known to the ancients, for the group is re[)resented 

 by numerous species in many parts of the world, and they early received 

 the name Mantis (prophet, or soothsayer). 



MANTIS CAROLINA. 



[Figs. 90 and 91.] 



This, the largest of our si)ecies, is not very abundant in Florida, but 

 is sonu^times seen upou orange trees, catching every moving insect that 

 comes within the reach of its claws. It is yellowish green in color, and 



I'lc. <)0.—Jfn7il!x carnlina : a. fonialc ; h. iiinU-. (Aficr Kilcy.) 



about two inches in length. Jt has wings in the adult state, which 

 somewhat resemble folded leaves ; each fore-wing bears a brown spot; 

 in some exotic species the center of this si)ot is trans])arent, and resem- 

 bles a hole eaten in the leaf by some insect. There is bui one brood 

 each year. The young hatch in early summer ami complete their growth 

 m the latter part of the season, The large egg-inasses are glued to tU© 



