Elementary entomology elementaryentom00sand Year: 1912 ORTHOPTERA 79 attitude assumed by the forelegs, which really, however, are merely held ready to quickly grasp any unwary insect prey which may come within reach. Early writers on natural history had many curious fancies concern- ing this insect, which are evinced by the name of our most common spe- cies, Alantis rcligiosa {mantis, 'a prophet'), the name undoubtedly referring to the pious attitude. Fig. 94. Egg mass of the praying mantis. (Natural size) (After Slingerland) There are many local names for them, such as rear-horses, devil
Elementary entomology elementaryentom00sand Year: 1912 ORTHOPTERA 79 attitude assumed by the forelegs, which really, however, are merely held ready to quickly grasp any unwary insect prey which may come within reach. Early writers on natural history had many curious fancies concern- ing this insect, which are evinced by the name of our most common spe- cies, Alantis rcligiosa {mantis, 'a prophet'), the name undoubtedly referring to the pious attitude. Fig. 94. Egg mass of the praying mantis. (Natural size) (After Slingerland) There are many local names for them, such as rear-horses, devil-horses, etc., while the southern negroes know them as mule killers and other sim- ilar names, from the supersti- tion that the brown saliva from their mouths will kill a mule. The eggs are laid in shingled masses, attached to a twig or weed, and are coated with a hard, gummy covering. The young, as well as the adults, feed on insects and are ex- tremely difficult to rear, as they are rabid cannibals, eating
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