the Biology of SphodromaMis guttata. 91 



Finally the tail was freed. This is only accomplished 

 with difficulty if the insect is hanging free of all foothold. 

 If however, "it is lying on or against something solid, the 

 following method is employed. The insect lying on its 

 ventral surface, strains away from the old skin, which is 

 bound to the ootheca by the thread, applying leverage to 

 the surface on winch it resl s by means of the joint at the 

 trochanter. It nu.vcs the tail round id circles in such a 

 way as to keep the threads stretched. After some effort 

 fch e abdomen is finally freed from the old j skin which 

 remains hanging on to the ootheca attached by the two 

 threads. This is usually completed about nine or ten 

 minutes from the Hist appearance of the larva. 



The larva has now changed considerably in shape; tne 

 abdomen is longer, and for a few minutes lies straight out 

 behind it on the ground; the sides of the head have spread 

 out owing to their being no longer confined by the first 

 skin and the head assumes the typical hammer shape; 

 the prothorax has elongated, and is now much longer than 

 the head (head 1 mm., prothorax T8 mm.). The larva 

 110 w lies motionless on the ground lor some minutes. 

 During this time the abdomen is shortened telescopically, 

 and is cocked up over the back to the position winch is 

 normally retained till the end of larval life. Finally after 

 about ten minutes' rest, the skin has hardened and the 

 larva can run about actively. The colour is matured in 

 about two hours, during which a general darkening is 

 observed, especially of the legs and the dorsal surface of 

 the body The colour at this stage, however, is no indica- 

 tion of 'that of the adult, as changes occur in larval and, 

 according to Przibram (1906, pp. 203 and 206), even during 



adult life. , . .. n 



The larvae, now in their second mstar. are very active. 

 They can jump as much as two and a half inches, the 

 second and third pair of legs alone being used in this, as 

 also in slow walking; in running, however, all three pairs 

 are used. They frequently sway from side to side tor 

 some minutes while standing still, recalling a similar habit 

 in the related Phasmidae. . 



Some of t he larvae were fed on aphis, as it was the most 

 easilv obtainable food at the end of April. AY hen they had 

 captured one they rotated it wit lithe end ol the disengaged 

 tibia until they were able to bite it at the back of the 

 thorax. This treatment paralysed the prey rapidly, and 



