The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
FLOWERS OF PREY.
Insects OF the Form and Color or Orchids
which Their Prey Think Plants.
From The Scientific America,

Probably in some respects the most sur
prising result of late entomological explora-
ton Ia the discovery OF sembanoes of orohida-
ceous flowers endowed with animal life and
voracious carnivorous appettes that seize
and incontinenty devour insect vegetarians
which. allured by their form and color in
cautiously alight upon them.
These flower insects belong to the curious
family Manitoba, OF which, We have WE'LL
known member In our Southern States, Phds-
mOIndntia cgrolihd, commonly called pray
ing mantis, though II the first part Of the
name was spelled with an "e" instead Of an
"a, il would be far more appropriate since
no known insect Is more bloodthrsty and
destructive of smaller and weaker individuals
belonging to It's class. Lts form Is charac-
Ia renly n four-egged insect for the fore
limbs are 40 modified that they cannot under
any circumstances be used in walking and
be the arms of men or the wings Of birds
They are, in fact the natural weapons OF the
insect and are used for nothing else than
"S An insect sect discovered BY Wood Mason
masQucrades sometimes rs pink and at
others ns a white orchid. The whole flower
insect ia either conspcuously white or OF a
respondent pink color, and both in color and
form perfectly initiates flower. The lower
or apparently anterior petal of an orchda ceous
blossom the labellum often of n, very curious
shape, IL represented by the abdomen of the
insect, while the parts which might be taken
regarding 1t "a an insect for its wings are
actually the femurs Of the two pairs Of pos
terror limbs so greatly expanded. hattoned
and shaped in such manner ~ to represent
msntis rests head downward. amid the stems
and leaves OF a plnnt the forelegs drawn In 10
that they cannot be seen the thighs of the
two hind ones rndiating ont on each side
and the thOrax and the abdomen raised ut
right angles to each other. the insect might
easily at first sight deceive more discriminat-
ing cntomologists than the honey seekers
that settle upon 1t.
An allied species. exactly resembling u
mink orchid is mentioned by DR. Wallace,
on the authority of Sir Charles Dixie as in
capturing butterti!os The expected guest
having arrived. the seeming feast spread
out for his delectation arises and devours
him. .,,,.,,, ,,,,.r,..,
saw what he supposed to he an orchid OF a
species unfamiliar to him, but upon examine
ton found it 20 be mants OF tho genus
f;ongyius A ia common with the habit
OF its kind when alghtnK upon n plant. it
hung head downward, exposing tho under
surface to view, sometimes m0tioDless, and
somched BY gentle Sep6yrs A bright violet
blue dilation of the thorax. In front of which
It's forcl,gs. banded violet and black, ex..
tended like petals, simulated the coroa of
A pa pih0ndC flower 80 perfectly as to
deceive the eyes of practised botanist.
T6omisadn family. living in Hover. cups.
IN Whch 18th they H liz in wait for Victims.
brazilian birds, fly -catch"rs, display bril-
liantly colored crest easily mistaken for
flower cup nsecff rs.by speSed oy %nss
furnish the birds with food An As!aticc
lizard In entirely oolored like the surface of
tho desert plains where 4 lives except that
red folding Of the flesh exactly resembling
little flower that grows in the sand. Insects
lured by the seeming flower are inconti-
nently disillusioned when they settle upon Il