LIBRARY

MANTODEA 127
female is turned up. The 10th tergite forms the supra-anal plate. The ninth
segment of the male usually bears a pair of styli. Rather short, flattened, and
segmented cerci are present. The ovipositor is not exserted. Auditory and
stridulating organs are not common although some species are recorded as
stridulating.
Internal anatomy. - The internal structure is not greatly different from the
ORTHOPTERA and PHASMIDA. The alimentary canal is straight or winding,
the crop spacious, the gizzard rudimentary, the salivary glands large and
FIG. 49. The Chinese m'mtid, ParatenQdara sinensis (Saussure), showing na.tural hunting pose.
with receptacles, and with eight tubular enteric cree a and about 100 Malpighian
tubules. There are three thoracic and seven abdominal ganglia and
two thoracic and eight abdominal spiracles.
Mantids are largely arboreal although certain wingless species are ground
inhabitors. They appear to be wholly carnivorous and devour only living prey,
which they capture by watchful waiting or by cautious stalking and which they
eat leisurely while the victim writhes, The diet consists of large and small fiies,
leafhoppers, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and, in fact, any insect that can be
overpowered, as well as very small frogs, lizards, and other animals. Although
slow in walking, they are remarkably energetic with their forelegs and strike
swiftly. They are pugnacious, and, while accused of cowardice. caged specimens
have repeatedly captured wasps and bumblebees which stung them several
times and were as often forcefully dropped, only to be seized again until
subdued. The males are combative and fight to the death. In China they are
caged for such encounters. The females are no less vicious and often devour
the males, However, in spite of their cruel ways, they are considered beneficial