INSECT ACTORS 107 



imitation carried out that the paler and more 

 decayed looking wings even bear clusters of dark 

 spots upon their surface, which gives them the 

 appearance of being attacked by fungus. 



Perhaps the strangest and most remarkable 

 family of insect actors are the Phasmidce or leaf, 

 grass, and stick insects. These singular creatures 

 belong to the Orthoptera, and are inhabitants of 

 the warmer regions of the world. Those in the 

 tropics grow to very large size, sometimes 

 measuring as much as ten or twelve inches in 

 length. All this group have developed the art 

 of simulation to a most astonishing degree ; and 

 carry out the deception so thoroughly that even 

 in the hand it is often difficult to tell whether 

 they really are insects, or the stick, grass, or leaf 

 they so marvellously impersonate. 



The Phasmidae are nocturnal in their habits, 

 resting during the daytime in stiff, motionless 

 attitudes upon the plants and shrubs on which 

 they feed. When dusk approaches these weird- 

 looking, dried sticks and twigs suddenly come 

 to life, and creep about with slow and stealthy 

 motions in a most uncanny manner. From their 

 spectre-like ways and appearance these insects 

 have gained their family name of " Phasmidae," 

 and are sometimes popularly called " Ghost 

 insects." 



One species of stick insect found in Africa is 

 exactly like a dried-up wisp of hay, and is so 

 extremely attenuated that squeezing it between 

 the fingers makes no impression on it whatever. 

 When at rest upon the long grass on which it 

 lives, the insect flattens its body closely against 



