PREDATORY INSECTS FREQUENTING THE ORANGE. 



189 



Their manner of feeding is very unlike that of other insects, and re- 

 minds one of a monkey eating fruit j they appear to masticate their food 

 very deliberately before swallowing, biting off a piece from time to time, 

 while they hold it in their claws. 



The head swings upon a very mobile neck, and can be turned so far to 

 the side as to look almost directly backwards over the shoulders. Their 

 quick movements betray an alertness, in striking contrast with the 

 feigned sluggishness of habit. This evidence of watchfulness, while 

 the insect, with fore-arms folded, and claws clasped in the attitude of 

 prayer, remains motionless and apparently absorbed in meditation, 

 gives an irresistably comic air of hypocrisy to its actions. These pecu- 

 liar habits were well known to the ancients, for the group is represented 

 by numerous species in many parts of the world, and they early received 

 the name Mantis (prophet, or soothsayer). 



MANTIS CAROLINA. 



[Figs. 90 and 91.] 



This, the largest of our species, is not very abundant in Florida, but 

 is sometimes seen upon orange trees, catching every moving insect that 

 comes within the reach of its claws. It is yellowish green in color, and 



FIG. 90. Mantis Carolina : a, female; b. male. (After Eiley.) 



about two inches in length. It has wings in the adult state, which 

 somewhat resemble folded leaves ; each fore-wing bears a brown spot; 

 in some exotic species the center of this spot is transparent, and resem- 

 bles a hole eaten in the leaf by some insect. There is but one brood 

 each year. The young hatch in early summer and complete their growth 

 in the latter part of the season. The large egg-masses are glued to the 



