232 MR. R, SHELFORD ON MIMETIC INSECTS AND [Nov. 4, 
Harpagid Mantide, mimic the young larve of the Reduviid bug, 
Fulyes amena, not only in coloration, but also in the peculiar 
habit of walking about with the abdomen curled over the back 
(compare figs. 16 & 17). When the young Mantides first emerge 
from the ootheca they are of a brilliant red colour, the head, basal 
joint of the antenna, apices of the femora, and the tibie ‘alone 
being jet-black. A similar arrangement of colours is exhibited 
by the young of £. @mena: im these the head, apices of the 
femora, bases of the tibie, the wing-rudiments, and some spots on 
the dorsal surface of the abdomen are black, whilst all the rest 
is vermilion (compare figs. 18 & 19). The newly-hatched larve 
of the bug are very much smaller than the corresponding stage 
of the Mantis, but after the second moult the size of the 
former is almost the same as that of their mimics when newly- 
hatehed. The brilliant coloration of the bug is essentially a 
warning signal, being correlated with an objectionable smell and 
presumably a still more objectionable taste, judging from the 
expressions of disgust manifested by two tame monkeys (/acacus 
cynomolgus) after tasting the specimens I offered them. The 
young Hymenopus they had eaten with the utmost sangfroid 
a few days before, from which one may justly conclude that in 
this case the coloration is deceptively warning or pseudapose- 
matic (truly mimetic). [tis unfortunate that I was unable to rear, 
or even to keep alive for a few days longer, the young Manti des: 
but they are notoriously difficult insects to rear, and all my speci- 
mens died before Iwas able to obtain the young of Fuldyes amena. 
The pupa and adult of this species of Mantis are floral simulators : 
the former resembles a pink Melastoma; the latter, which is 
eream-coloured varied with brown, resembles the flower of an 
orchid of fairly common occurrence ; and I have also seen a young 
larva which bore a striking resemblance to a small pink flower of 
an order not known to me, I have had this insect in various 
stages of its life-history frequently under observation, and can 
confirm in almost every detail Mr. Annandale’s recently es 
lished account of the habits of the pupa (cf P.Z.S, 1900, pp. 8 
et seg.). That the insect should mimic in the youngest stage 
its life-history a distasteful and conspicuously- -coloured bug is & 
fact of some interest. 
|The late Mr. L. de Nicéville states, in a letter to Prof. Poulton, 
that he had reared some species of Mantide ; one species when 
newly hatched was remarkably like a small -black ant, the de- 
ceptive resemblance being so close that a careful scrutiny was 
necessary to determine the exact nature of the insect. Mr. de 
Nicéville also remarks :—‘* A Mantis of fair size does not often 
move but waits for its prey to come to it, but these young ones 
ran about incessantly looking for their prey, just like the ants 
they mimicked.”] 
r4) 
i 4 
