The Wonderful Ways of Insects and Spiders 



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that she had something on the order of a visitor from Mars. There 

 she learned the true nature of her captive, and also that it was 

 quite possible to keep a mantis as a pet. 



The Preying Habits of the Praying Mantis: In natural surround- 

 ings mantids are great hunters, capturing by stealth such lively 

 insects as butterflies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, beetles, and flies. 

 The mantis lies in wait with its front legs upraised in a prayerful 

 pose, and when its prey comes near, it snatches at the victim with 

 lightning speed. The prey has slight chance of escaping the rows 

 of sharp spines on the second and third joints of the mantis' 

 forelegs. 



"MULE-KILLERS" AND "DEVIL'S HORSES" 



These are some of the epithets that have been applied to the praying mantis, 

 though its forelegs seem to be raised in a devout attitude, the mantis is actually 

 poised to pounce on its prey. Then, holding its victim in a grip of steel, it devours 

 It at its leisure. Green or brown in color, this insect is about two inches long. 



