New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06
FLOWERS OF PREY.
Insects Of the Form and Color of Orchids
Their Carnivorous Appetites

Probably in some respects the most surprising
results OF late theological exploration Is the dis
covery OF semblances OF orchidaceous flowers en-
dowed with animal life and voracio IS, carnivCroUs
appetites that seize and incontinently devour n
sect vegetarIans which allured by their form and
color. incautlously alight upon them.
These flower insects belong :he curious fam
sly Manitoba Of which We have a well Known
member OF our Southern States, PhasInoEilHtis
carolina, commonly called praying maA's.
though IL the first part OF the lame were spei,sd
with an "e'' instead OF "a Il would be far
more appropriate. since known insect is more
bloodthirsty and destructive OF smaller and weaker
individuals belonging its class Its form is char
ac;eristic OF its predatory habits.
The mantls is really four legged insect. for the
fore limbs modified that they cannot under
any circumstances be used In walking. and are no
more properly termed legs than would be the arms
OF men the wings OF birds. They are. In fact.
the natural weapons OF the insect, and are used
for nothing else than lighting and for capturing
prey.
An insect discovered by Wood Mason
querades sometimes rs a pink and at oh ers
white orchid. The whole flower insect is either
conspicuously white OF a respondent pink color.
and 10th in color and form perfectly initiates
flower. The lower or apparently anterior petal OF
an orchidaceous blossom. the labellum often Of
very curious shape, is represented by the abdomen
Of the insect, while the parts which might be
actually the femurs Of the iwo pairs Of posterior
limbs so greatly expanded fiattencd and shaped
in such manner as TO represent the remaining pet
ais Of the flower.
AS the mantis rests. head downward. amid the
stems and leaves OF plant, the fOreleEs drawn
in so that they cannot be SEEN the thighs OF the
two hind ones radiating out on each side, and the
thorax and the abdomen raised at right angles u
each other. the insect might easily at FIRST sight
deceive more discriminating entomooslsts than the
honey suckers that settle upon IL.
allied species, exactly resembling a pink or
child IS mentioned by DR. Wallace. on the aG-
thority OF Sir Charles Dixie. inhabiting Java
Its specially is alluring and capturing butterflies
The expected guest having arrived, the seeming
feast spread out for his deectation arises and de-
YOURS him
Professor s. Kurz. while at Pagu, I'm lower Bur
NAH saw what he supposed to he an orchid. OF a
species unfamiliar to him. but upon examination
found IL 10 be a mantis OF the genus gongylus
As Is common with the habit OF its kind when
alighted upon a plant, IL hung head downward
tjopless and sometimes swaying gently Ike n flow
er touched by gentle zephyrs. bright violet-blue
dilaton OF the thoraN In front OF which Its fore
legs banded violet and black. extended like petals
Simulated the corolla Of papiEonaceous flower so
perfectly as TO deceive the eyes or a pracused
botanist.
coiors and markings Of the flowers in which they
lie in wait for victims
BRAZILIAN birds fly catchers. display brilliantly
colored crest easily mistaken for flower cup In
sects attracted by what appears 20 be q freshly
opened BLOSSOM furnish the birds with food. An
Asiatic lizard IS entirely cOiored like the surface
~ the desert plains where II lives except at each
angle OF the mouth blooms 4 brilliant red fosning
81 the flesh exactly resembling little flower that
grows I'm the sand. Insects lured by the seeming
Sower are incont inently disillusoned when they
Sstffn upor if-fScientidc American.