The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-01
WONDERFUL LEAF-INSECTS
Tho Most Marvellous Illustrations OF MINI
IcrY In Nature.

Tic Most Marvellous Illustrations OF MINI
icrY In Nature.
At a recent meeting OF the London
Geological Society for scientific busi-
ness, Mr.. Sclator called attention IN q
specimen OF u lcaf-insect living in the
society's 1nsecthousc, which had been
received from the Seychelles and pro-
sonted by Lord Walsingham. The leaf
insects, OF which but few species arc
known, belong to the Same family (Phds-
tm'd1) as tho stick-insects, and both arc
marvellous illustrations of III imicry in
nature. They are all nocturnal in their
habits, and spend their days resting on
trees and bushes, the leaves OF which
form their food. and their rcscm-
blancc, respectively, to tho loavos
and twigS Is 80 cXtraord mary
that IL is not surprising that they escape
the observation OF their cnomies. Tho
lcaf-insects are most singular; tho head
aud part of tho thOrsX form stalk,
while tho abdomen. which is fat. thin
and much diiatcd, exactly resembles Il
loaf. Tho legs, which are six in num-
Der, have broad mcmbranous append
ages on the thighs and these arc espe-
cially noticeable on the forc-lcgs; tho
result being that tho creature. whiic
resting immovablo, has the appearance
of leaf which has boon gnawcd on both
sides by q caterpillar. In the insect at
the Zoo this resemblance is most exact,
and the illusion is heightened by the
coloring, which makes it appear slightly
withcred at the edges. 1t is the habit
OF tho insect to hang back downward,
with tho abdomen slightly curlcd up.
brings to light another beautiful con-
trivance for still further tightening its
resemblance to leaf. Tho upper sur
face is Opaque green, the under surface
glossy, glittcring green. just tho reverse
OF the myrtle or guava leaf, 80 that, by
reversing its position, it brings tho
glossy side up and the dull side down"
The eggs of tho phasimid;r, which are
few in number, arc large, and covered
with horny she'll, at the end Of which
there is a distinct operculum, and arc
deposited sinsly. The insect attains a
considerable amount OF develop
ing before emerging. Mr.. Muir
ray tells us that after hay
ing reached the form OF n six-loggcd,
jointed insect it emcrgcs from the egg
Ivy pushing Off the lid. 1t comes out
middle forcmost-that is, its head and
tail arc packed downward so as to meet
each other. Tho back between these
first appears, and they are drawn out
next; the legs are eXtricatcd last. Tho
color OF the insect at this stage is a
reddish-yellow, something OF the hue
of half-dricd beech leaf; for it is to be
observed that although the color OF
the insect varies at different periods OF
its life, 1t always more or less rcsem-
bies Leaf at some stage. When it
has once settled to cat tho leaves on
which it is placed, tho body speedily
becomes bright green" Specimens OF
the leaf-insect are arc not uncommon in
collections; but after death the green
color is lost and the whole insect ac-
quircs ycllowishb brown tint much tho
color OF dry leaf. Living specimens.
however, are by no means common, and
we believe the present Species to DO
even less common than Phyllium sicci-
foliuni, Of which, according TO Tive la to
Rev. John Wood, specimens have been
Matched in England, have passed into
their perfect state and lived for some
eighteen months. '-London Satur day
Review.