240 



THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



HABITS. 



There are over thirty species of 

 niantids in AustraUa, and though each 

 has its own specific habits, these are all 

 alike in a general sense. For the sake 

 of convenience the habits and life- 

 history of a common local species, 

 the Long-Winged Praying Mantis {Ten- 

 odera australasiae), will be hereafter 

 discussed as ty])ical. This widely dis- 

 tributed Australian mantis has often 

 been observed by the writer in the 

 coastal bush around Sydney, \\here it 

 occurs fairly ])lentifully during the 

 si>ring and summer months. It may 

 be found on the ground or in low scrub, 

 stealthily walking from twig to twig, 

 sedately unfolding its front legs to 

 assist itself in the process. Sometimes 

 it stops and sways from side to side, 

 as it stands delicately poised on its 

 hinder legs. When performing this 

 action its resemblance to a stick moving 

 slightly in the breeze is very striking. 

 If its attention be attracted by some 

 moving object, the mantis will quickly 

 turn or lift its head in order to investi- 

 gate. This action is a comical one 

 and almost human in its impression, 

 for one can imagine the presence of a 

 quizzical expression on the face of the 

 insect as it '"takes stock." It is a 

 ])roficient junqier and leaps from rela- 

 tively great heights, always landing 

 safely on its feet like a domestic cat. 

 When at rest, the Mell-known ])raying 

 attitude is assumed, when the fore- 

 limbs are folded with their inner sur- 

 faces closely adpressed. So far as the 

 Long- Winged Mantis is concerned the 

 males appear to be more efficient on the 

 wing than the females, for these even- 

 tually develop a bulky form of body 

 which is quite out of pro})ortion to their 

 wing capacity. The s])ecies in question 

 is sometimes attracted by artificial 

 light, and, during its active nocturnal 

 wanderings, may enter dwellings in 

 order to satisfy its curiosity. 



The gruesome work performed by the 

 forelimbs is quite out of keeping with 

 their sanctimonious appearance, as 

 they are used for the purpose of 

 killing insects for food. These weapons 

 oi destruction can be manipulated with 

 deadly S]ieed and accuracy when direc- 



The fore-limbs of the Mantis are weU- 



developed and are used principally for 



securing prey, which is held by the prominent 



spines. 



[Photo.— G. C. CInttott. 



ted at an unsuspecting prey. If a 

 grasshopper or any other insect or 

 spider that the mantis has a gastro- 

 nomic fancy for is espied, the serrated 

 forelegs are launched at the prey, and 

 the spines along their inner edges pene- 

 trate the wretched captive's body, 

 gripping it so firmly that all its struggles 

 are in vain. If the victim be a large 

 one, the mantis puts an end to its 

 efforts to escape by biting it at a 

 point sitiiated just behind the head : 

 a procedure which causes almost instant 

 death. In the case of smaller " fry," 

 no such delicacy of feeling is exhibited, 

 and the ruthless captor may begin 

 eating at the head, feet or sides, without 

 regard to the sufferings of its victim. 

 The mantis is a voracious insect, and 

 an example kept in captivity by the 

 AVTiter was observed to eat fourteen 

 young locusts (short -horned grass- 

 hoppers) in a single day, consuming 



