174 A BOOK OF INSECTS 



is well illustrated by many of the mantids, or " praying 

 insects," all of which are carnivorous. Most of the species 

 are either green or brown in colour; so that when they 

 sit motionless among foliage, or upon the bark of trees, 

 they are well concealed. They have sluggish, indolent 

 habits, and usually adopt a policy of waiting for some- 

 thing to turn up, although at times they steal cautiously 

 from one point of vantage to another, or stalk an insect 

 which has settled beyond their reach. Their wonderful 

 raptorial fore-legs have already been described (p. 63). In 

 the use of these limbs the mantids are amazingly rapid and 

 dexterous, often capturing an insect as it flies past ; while 

 the rows of sharp spines with which the modified femur 

 and tibia are armed effectually prevent the victim's escape 

 when once it has been seized. 



Although the majority of mantids are either green 

 or brown in accordance with the prevailing tint of their 

 environment, a few species are brightly coloured in such 

 a way that when the insect poses among foliage, the 

 similitude of a flower is produced. Now everyone knows 

 that flowers are attractive to many kinds of insects, which 

 fly to them in order to feast upon nectar or pollen. 

 Bearing this fact in mind, it is not difficult to believe that 

 a flower-like mantid, hanging motionless among green 

 leaves, might easily deceive such insects as bees and 

 butterflies. That these mistakes actually occur is vouched 

 for by more than one competent observer. 



Dr. Wallace mentions an insect (Hymenopus bicornis), 

 discovered by Mr. Wood-Mason, which attracts other 

 insects to their destruction by its flower-like shape and 

 delicate pink-and-white colouring. Parts of the insect's 

 legs are so flattened as to look like petals. In this 

 instance the whole of the mantid is so contrived that the 

 appearance of an orchid results ; but in another species 



