ORTHOPTERA— MANTJDAE— MANTIS WHEELEEII. 84 ( J 



. . MANTIS, Linn. 



MANTIS WDEELERII, sp. nov. 



The specimen is dry, and is so badly damaged that it is impossible to 

 determine positively the genus to which it belongs, or to do more than indi- 

 cate some of its leading specific characters. 



Female. — Head flat, transverse, triangular in front, Occiput short, 

 reduced to a transverse ridge. Vertex transverse, directed downward and 

 backward toward the face, with four slight longitudinal depressions. Ocelli 

 distinct and prominent. The face transversely quadrilateral ; the upper 

 carinate margin bent upward between the antenna?. The antennse wanting. 

 Prothorax about twice the length of the rest of the thorax ; the margins 

 minutely sen-ate, slightly emarginate, scarcely expanding posteriorly, ex- 

 panding near the transvei'se incision. Anterior femora denticulate on the 

 exterior carina. Abdomen enlarged, fusiform. Middle and posterior legs 

 wanting-, and but a remnant of the wings remaining. 



Color. — Yellow, probably faded from a pale green. The abdominal 

 segments with a piceous black fascia or ring on the posterior margin of 

 each. The remnants of the wings carneous-red. 



It is probably a species of Stagmatoptera ; but it certainly approaches 

 very near to Hierodula, notwithstanding Saussure's assertion that those be- 

 longing to the genus are " Insectes asiatiques et africains".* 



The specimen is too much injured to give any very accurate measure- 

 ments ; but the following approximations will indicate the size : — Length, 

 2.2 inches; prothorax, 1.0 inch; anterior femora, 0.5 inch ; anterior tibiae, 

 0.6 inch. 



Stal (Ofver. k. Veteusk.-Akacl, 1871) gives a new arrangement of the 

 Mantidce in the form of a synoptical table. Although this possesses some 

 advantages in tracing species, yet I prefer that of Saussure, as given in his 

 Melanges ortlwptcrologiques (3 m0 fas., 1870). 



He divides the family into two divisions, which he terms groups, but 

 which might very properly be called subfamilies. The first, Nudipedes, is 

 distinguished by setaceous antenna; in the two sexes ; head triangular, 

 simple, without prolongations ; feet and body simple, without membranous 



* Melanges Ortliopterologiques III, Fascic. 214. 

 54 z 



