Mr Sharp, Modification and attitude o/Idolum diabolicum, etc. 17' 



The modification and attitude o/Idolum diabolicum, a Mantis 

 of the kind called "floral simulators? By D. Sharp. 



Plate II. 



The Insects composing the family Mantidae differ from other 

 Orthoptera in that they are excessively voracious, eat only living 

 animals, and have their front legs greatly modified for capturing 

 their victims. 



During the last few years various notes have appeared relating 

 to Mantises that look like flowers, and thus attract Insects to 

 become their prey. None of them have been figured ; and as the 

 colours of Mantidae fade greatly, and change considerably after 

 death, and as the natural attitudes cannot be ascertained from the 

 dead specimens in our cabinets, there is a difficulty in realising 

 what the facts really are. 



I was therefore much interested by a letter I received from an 

 esteemed correspondent informing me that he had discovered one 

 of these " floral simulators " shortly after taking up his residence at 

 Mozambique on his removal from Aden. In reply to some questions 

 I addressed to him, Mr Muir has been so kind as to send me the 

 Insect, together with a coloured drawing representing its appear- 

 ance during life. The species proves to be Idolum diabolicum 1 , a 

 Mantis described by de Saussure from a specimen from the interior 

 of Africa. De Saussure had no information whatever as to the 

 habits of the creature and was probably guided in the selection of 

 the name he applied to it by the peculiar shape and by the great 

 development of the instruments it is provided with for the purpose 

 of capturing its living prey. 



Mr Muir says, "like Mantis religiosa it assumes very peculiar 

 attitudes, sometimes hanging by three or even two legs, and sticking 

 one or more of the others out like twigs. The front legs are 

 invariably extended ready to close in upon the deluded prey and 

 are never darted out as they are by M. religiosa. Its food seemed 

 to consist of flies, Limnas chrysipjpus being rejected, even when 

 hungry, and other butterflies only taken for lack of other food. 

 Small bits of plaintain were sucked but never eaten. Bees and 

 wasps were left alone 2 . The plant it is depicted on is a rose which 



1 I have to thank M. H. de Saussure for answering some questions I addressed 

 to him, and thus enabling me to feel sure that my determination of his species 

 is correct. 



2 It may be well to mention that this is contrary to the habits of various other 

 Mantids, which respect neither bees nor wasps ; while, of some of them, butterflies 

 are a favourite food, those that are considered to be distasteful being freely eaten. 

 The scattered observations that have been made indicate considerable variety 

 as regards this point. 



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