248 



ORTHOPTERA 



development they devoured other Insects greedily : the number 

 of ecdyses is seven or eight. The ocelli appear for the first time 

 when tlie wing rudiments do so ; the number of joints in the 

 antennae increases at each moult. Dr. Pagenstecher considers 

 that this Insect undergoes its chief meta- 

 morphosis immediately after leaving the egg, 

 the earlier condition existing apparently to 

 fit the Insect for escaping from the egg-case. 

 In the immature stage of the Mantidae the alar 

 organs appear (Fig. 139) as adjuncts of the 

 sides of the meso- and meta- notum, projecting 

 backwards and very deeply furrowed and 

 ribbed in a wing-like manner. According to 

 Fig. 139. Tegmina Pagcnstecher, this wing-like appearance only 

 (t) aud wings {w) of commences in the fifth stadium, but he has 



immature Mantis. . ,., n ,^ t,- r> 



not given particulars oi the conditions oi 

 these parts in the preceding instars. According to de Saussure ^ 

 the wings of the females of some species remain permanently in 

 this undeveloped or nymphal state. 



The Mantidae, as a rule, have a quiet unobtrusive mien, and 

 were it not for their formidable 

 front legs would look the picture of 

 innocence ; they, however, hold these 

 legs in such manner as to greatly 

 detract from the forbidding appear- 

 ance thereof, stretching them out only 

 partially so as- to give rise to an 

 appearance of supplication or prayer;^ 

 this effect is increased by their 

 holding themselves in a semi-erect 

 position, standing on the hind and 

 middle legs with the upper parts of 

 the body directed somewhat for- 

 wards, hence they are called by 

 various names indicating prayer or 

 supplication, and it is said that in 

 some countries they are considered sacred. Some of the older 



Fig. 140. Iris 

 South Europe. 



oratoria, female. 

 Natural size. 



1 Biol. Cenir. Amer. Orthopt. 1894, p. 160. 



'^ Our figures do not exhibit this attitude ; if portrayed in their natural position 

 in a drawing the front legs would be to a large extent obscured. 



