MANTIDAE 



247 



specimen constructed four nests of eggs at intervals of about a 

 fortnight, and Trimen states that the four were " as nearly as 

 possible of the same size and of precisely similar shape." He 

 also describes its mode of feeding, and says 

 that it was fond of house-flies, and would 

 eat " blue-bottles," i.e. Musca vomitoria, but 

 if while eating one of the latter a house-fly 

 were introduced, the " blue-bottle " was gener- 

 ally dropped, even though it might be in 

 process of being devoured. The young have 

 to escape from the chambers in which they 

 are confined in these egg-cases ; they do so 

 in a most curious manner ; not by the use 

 of the feet, but by means of spines directed 

 backwards on the cerci and legs, so that 

 when the body is agitated advance is made 

 in only one direction. The eggs last de- 

 posited are said to be the first to hatch. 

 On reaching the exterior the young Mantids 

 do not fall to the ground, but remain sus- 

 pended, after the manner of spiders, to the 

 ootheca by means of two threads attached to 

 the extremities of the cerci ; in this strange 

 position they remain for some days until the 

 first change of skin is effected, after which 

 they commence the activity of their predatory life. 



Dr. Pagenstecher has given an account ^ of the development 

 of Mantis religiosa, from which it would appear that the statements 

 of Fischer and others as to the number of moults are erroneous, 

 owing to the earliest stages not having been observed. When 

 the young Mantis emerges from the egg it bears little resemblance 

 to tlie future Insect, but looks more like a tiny pupa ; the front 

 legs, that will afterwards become so remarkable, are short and not 

 different from the others, and the head is in a curious mummy- 

 like state, with the mouth-parts undeveloped and is inflexed on 

 the breast : there are, he says, nine abdominal segments. The 

 first ecdysis soon takes place and the creature is thereafter 

 recognisable as a young Mantis. Pagenstecher's specimens at 

 first would only eat Aphididae, but at a later stage of the 

 ^ Arch. f. Naturgesch. xxx. Band 1, 1864, p. 7. 



Fia. 138.— Egg-case of 

 Mantis with young 

 escaping : A, tlie case 

 with young in their 

 position of suspension ; 

 B, cerci magnified, 

 showing the suspen- 

 sory threads. (After 

 Brongniart.) 



