235 



NOTES ON THE LIFE=HISTORY OF THE 

 LEAF=INSECT. 



W. H. ST. QUINTIN, 

 Scainpston, E. Yorks. 



Although I have already * described some examples of a species 

 of Leaf Insect, Pulchriphylliiim cnirifoliiim, which I have 

 had under my observation for just two years, I venture to send 

 some further account of these ver}^ interesting insects, partly 

 because there probably are some readers of the ' Naturalist ' 

 who do not see the ' Entomologist,' and also because I am able 

 now to give photographs which more fully illustrate the life- 

 history of the insect than those which I secured last year. 

 But first perhaps I may say a few words about some other 

 members of the same order. Many of the orthoptera make 

 attractive subjects for observation in captivity — a sunny 

 window, and some provision for excluding cold draughts is all 

 that the European species of Mantis and Bacillus (Stick 

 Insects) require in their later stages. But in this country 

 some artificial heat is desirable for the young specimens, or 

 their appetites fail, and growth becomes slow. And plenty 

 of sunlight is at all ages indispensable. I generally mj^self 

 have, from March to October, examples of Bacillus rossii 

 feeding on the golden-flowered Genista fragrans of our con- 

 servatories, and a few Mantis empnsa, and sometimes M. 

 religiosa. The former can easily be found along the Riviera 

 in the spring, and being then well-grown, gives little trouble. 

 Either of our cabbage butterflies or blue bottle flies are readily 

 taken, and the scarcely suppressed excitement with which the 

 Mantis watches its prey approaching, slowly turning its head the 

 while, and the dexterity with which it grips the victim when 

 within reach of those deadly forelegs, is a strange sight. M. 

 religiosa does not hatch out till March-April, and the young, 

 which may be beaten off the tree-heath (Bruyere) in the latter 

 month are not very easy to feed. Small enough flies are 

 difficult to find so early in the year. But the larvae seem 

 to be only partly carnivorous at first, and will sip honey 

 and water offered to them on a fine grass bent, and when they 

 assume predatory habits, will take aphides, and presently small 

 house-flies. I have never been able to breed Mantis. The 

 female is altogether more powerful than the male imago, and in 



* ' Entomologist,' April and July, 1907, to the editor of which paper I 

 am indebted for the loan of three of the six illustrations which accompany 

 these notes (plates xxv. and xxvi.). 



1908 July I. 



