158 



Marvels of the Universe 



quite a common feature with these insects, the larger individuals frequentlj- attacking and 

 devouring the smaller ones. 



The female ^Mantis deposits her eggs about September, the young being hatched in early summer. 

 The}^ resemble the adults, but are without wings in their early stages, when they pre}' upon green- 

 flies. The numerous eggs are not deposited singly, but in a chambered capsule, which at first 

 appears as a bubble of frothy foam, afterwards becoming hard and brittle, the capsule being 

 attached to a twig or stem. When the 3'oung emerge, thej' drop down from the egg-cocoon on 

 delicate strands, reminding one of young spiders. 



It is, however, in the warmer parts of the earth that ilantids are seen at their highest 



development. In the 

 tropics many species 

 are to be found, all of 

 which offer some won- 

 derful features of in- 

 terest. As we have 

 seen, the Praying Man- 

 tis somewhat resembles 

 its surroundings, but 

 its foreign relatives 

 carry such simulation 

 to an extraordinarj' 

 degree. Their leaf-like 

 wing-covers so per- 

 fectlj' mimic the foliage 

 which surrounds them 

 that, when removed, 

 they are almost suffi- 

 cient to persuade a 

 practical botanist into 

 the belief that he is 

 examining a vegetable 

 structure, so faithfully 

 are the veins and fine 

 nervures of the leaves 

 copied. Also, manj? of 

 them have developed 



upon their legs irregular pieces of leaf-like integuments, so that, when waiting amongst the 

 foliage for their prey to approach, the}? are completely disguised. It is remarkable, too, that 

 as the season advances they slowly change in colour from green to brown, in harmonj' with the 

 leaf changes. 



Other species go further than merely harmonizing with their surroundings, and simulate some 

 object which is of even greater utility to them. These, instead of resembling leaves, are brilliantly 

 coloured like fine flowers, their attitudes and means of attaching themselves to the plant-stems 

 combining with their external contour to heighten the effect. In this way their prey does not fail 

 into their clutches merel}' by accident, but is directly lured towards them by their flower-like form. 

 One species inhabiting India has its two hind pairs of legs flattened into broad pink or white plates, 

 shaped like the petals of a flower, and when seeking for prey it spreads out these organs, two on 

 each side, its fore-legs being almost hidden beneath its fore-parts. So butterflies and other flower- 

 loving insects are attracted towards this apparent flower, which is really a death-trap for them. 



[r^n,! II. f.ll' 



THE iMAiXTlS PRAYING. 



Not really praying, but preying in deadly earnest; for in tKis position the creature waits for 

 its un\vary victim, then the powerful fore-legs unfold and the unfortunate insect is grasped 

 tightly between the toothed shanks and thighs. 



