Mr. Addison Ellsworth favors us with a transcript of a letter from Mr.
Albert D. Rust, of Ennis, Ellis County, Texas, describing a remarkable
exhibition of copulative cannibalism on the part of the mantis. The
ferocious nature of these strange insects is well known, and is in
striking contrast with the popular name, "praying mantis," which they
have gained by the pious attitude they take while watching for the flies
and other insects which they feed upon.
About sunrise, August 28, 1880, Mr. Rust's attention was attracted by a
pair of mantis, whether _Mantis religiosa_ or not, he was not sure, but
from the length of the body and the shortness of the wings he was
inclined to think them of some other species. The female had her arms
tightly clasped around the head of the male, while his left arm was
around her neck. Mr. Rust watched intently to see whether the embrace
was one of war or for copulation. It proved to be both. As the two
abdomens began to approach each other the female made a ferocious attack
upon the male, greedily devouring his head, a part of the body, and all
the arm that had encircled her neck. A moment after the eating began,
Mr. Rust observed a complete union of the sexual organs, and the eating
and copulation went on together. On being forcibly separated the female
exhibited signs of fear at her headless mate, and it was with difficulty
that they were brought together again. On being suddenly tossed upon the
back of the female the male seized her with a grasp from which she could
not extricate herself, and immediately the sexual union was renewed, to
all appearances as perfectly as before.
The pair were accidentally killed, otherwise, Mr. Rush thinks, the
female would have continued her cannibalistic repast until she had
devoured the entire body of her companion.
This peculiarity of the mantis seems not to have been observed before,
though their mutually destructive disposition has been noted by several.
Desiring to study the development of these insects, M. Roesel raised a
brood of them from a bag of eggs. Though plentifully supplied with
flies, the young mantis fought each other constantly, the stronger
devouring the weaker, until but one was left.
M. Poiret was not more successful. When a pair of mantis were put
together in a glass they fought viciously, the fight ending with the
decapitation of the male and his being eaten by the female.
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