Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-21

Wull0 watching luz 1NS
prey the insect usually sits FIGURE 1.
with head up and arms lifted as in awhile
at rest it usually sits with head downward
and neck held straight, as at b. 1t has
another popularity that we have met with
in no other species-it can turn its queer
little head about and look at you without
moving its body, apparently with as much
ease as can an owl
Mantis carolina does not live through the
winter as perfect insect, but is renewed
each season from the eggs, as already de-
scribed. The eggs are laid late in the
season, and remain where deposited
through winter, to renew the species early
in the spring.
Than this insect nothing could be more
harmless, hence all the talk about its
''kerspatting'' at peoples eyes is simply
nonsense. It viii fight in self-defense, if
crowded, but its means defensive lie wholly
within its two strong,arms set with teeth
or spines, as shown in the engraving. These
it clasps upon the enemy, but there is not
force enough in them to infict the slightest
wound on even the most delicate finger.
The object of those strong arms and spines
is the holding of its prey. 1t will seize a
fly, or other insect, between those arms,
hold it up after the manner of a squirrel
gnawing a pecan, and continue in the
position as shown at a, until the game is
literally devoured.
Mantis carolina feeds wholly upon in
sects, and therefore is the special friend of
the agriculturist. In some localities the
people are encouraging it in every possible
way, with view to securing its aid in de-
stroying injurious insects. Mr.. C. V. Riley,
entomologist to the United States depart
ment of agriculture, says Gen. Engleman
of St. Clair county, H., has found it of
great advantage in his vineyard. The gen.
eral colonies it in his vineyard by collect
ing the masses of eggs, as shown at figure
l, and placing them upon his grape vines.
Mr.. Riley further says american En-
tomologist, Vol I, page 59), 1.-The insect
which the children call DEVILS riding
horse, and which you would like to know
the scientific name of, is Mantis carolina of
Linneus Its food consists mainly of flies,
though it is a most voracions cannibal, and
will devour any other living in-
sect that comes within its grasp. II dis
dains all dead food, and never makes chase
Tor the living. but warily, patiently and
motionlessly it watches until its victim is
within the reach of its fore-arms, and then
clutches ii with a sudden and rapid motion.
Its appearance is really formidable, and its
attitude while watching for its prey, quite
menacing, and on this account it is held in
very general superstitious dread. 1t is,
however, utterly incapable of harmiug any
one; and, as one of our best friends, should
be cherished and protected. The female
attaches her eggs, in a solid, compact mass,
TO the twigs of trees. This egg-mass is de-
posted whole, and the operation of deposit
ing requires well nigh an hour. Though
soft at first the mass soon hardens, and is
readily transferred to and introduced into
our gardens"
While Mr.. Riley states that the insect
deposits its eggs on the twigs Of trees, we
may add that it will deposit them on almost
anything convenient. We have them on our
window screen at our home, lis Pecan
street, Fort Worth, where they were placed
by our pets last fall.
Dr. Harris, in his great work entitled,
'Insects Injurious to Vegetation says of
the Mautis, page 146: '"They are exclu-
siyely predaceous insects, selling, with
their singular forelegs, caterpilGrs and
other weaker insects, which they devour.
They are, therefore, to be enumerated
among the insects that are beneficial to
mankind, by keeping in check those that
subsist on vegetable food
Professor j. Henry Comstock, one of our
very best chronological authorities, and
formerly United States entomologist, says
in his book on cotton insects, Endorsed and
published by the government page 165:
"The rear-horse, camel-cricket or devils
riding-horse (lMantis carolina). As useful an
insect as occurs in the Southern states, is
known by the above popular names in diff
fsrent localities Its food consists entirely
Of other insects, which it approaches
stealthily and seizes with It's powerful
spined forelegs The amount of good which
1t does in thus destroying noxious insects is
Aard to estimate. The capacity of each IL