Plate L. fig. 1.
ORDER: Orthoptera. SECTION: Cursoria. FAMILY: Mantidæ.
GENUS. EMPUSA, _Latr. Serv._ Gongylus, _Thunberg_. Mantis, _Fabr. Drury_.
EMPUSA PENNICORNIS. Capite subulato, prothorace longissimo, femoribus
anticis fusco trifasciatis, alis virescentibus. (Long. Corp. 2 unc. 1½
lin.)
SYN. Mantis pectinata, _Drury, App. vol._ 2.
Empusa pectinicornis, _Fabr. Ent._ 2. 25. _Oliv. Enc. Méth. No._ 32.
_Serville Revis. Orthopt._ 21. (nec _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 1. 2. 691. _No._
10.)
HABITAT: Jamaica.
Head yellowish brown; the upper part terminating in a point like a strong
spine. Antennæ strongly pectinated or combed, and about half the length
of the thorax. Thorax long and slender, flat on the under side, and
rounded at top. Tegmina very thin, green, and almost transparent;
extending, when {122}closed, beyond the abdomen. Wings green,
transparent, towards the tips brownish, being near the same length as
their cases. Abdomen about the length of the thorax, and near the
extremity three times its breadth. Fore legs brownish yellow, with dark
spots on them. Trochanters terminating in a thick spine; femora on the
outer side furnished with two rows of spines, and a deep groove between
them, which seems formed for receiving the tibiæ when closed up, like as
the blade of a razor is received in the haft. Tibiæ furnished at the
extremity with a strong spine, bending inwards, from whence the tarsi
arise. Middle and hinder legs furnished with two spines at the tips of
the tibiæ, and at the tips of the femora with one; having four small
membranes almost joining to them.
This insect has been considered by all writers as identical with the
Linnæan Mantis pectinicornis; but as that insect is described by Linnæus as
an inhabitant of China, and the former as found in Jamaica, I have thought
it more correct to restore the name of pectinicornis to the Linnæan insect,
and give that figured by Drury another denomination.