Cini R A PoRg 
INTERRELATIONS OF INSECTS 
Insects in general are adapted to utilize all kinds of organic 
matter as food, and they show all gradations of habit from 
herbivorous to carnivorous. The many forms that derive 
their food from the bodies of other insects may conveniently 
be classed as predaceous or parasitic. 
Predaceous Insects.—Among Orthoptera, Mantidz are 
notably predatory, their front legs (Fig. 62, C) being well 
fitted for grasping and killing other insects. The predaceous 
odonate nymphs have a peculiar 
hinged extensible labium with Fic. 270. 
which to gather in the prey. The 
adults catch with surpassing 
speed and precision a great va- 
riety of flying insects, mostly 
small forms, but occasionally but- 
terflies of considerable size. The 
eyes of a dragon fly are remark- 
ably large; the legs form a spiny 
basket, probably to catch the prey, 
which is instantly stripped and 
devoured, these operations being 
facilitated by the excessive mobil- 
Nymph of Podisus spinosus suck- 
ity of the head. The hemiupter- ing the blood from a clover cater- 
i pillar, Colias  philodice. Natural 
size. 
ous families Corixidze, Notonect- 
ide (Fig. 224), Nepidz, Belos- 
tomide (Fig. 22), Naucoride (Fig. 62, D), Reduviide and 
Phymatide are predaceous, with raptorial front legs and sharp 
beaks. Some of the Pentatomide (Fig. 270) are of con- 
siderable economic value on account of their predaceous 
habits. Most of the Neuroptera feed upon other insects. 
397 
