670 CLASS IV. INSECTA. 



are less important in the perpetuation of the race. The anterior wings are 

 usually those which most closely mimic leaves, but the legs and other parts 

 of the body may also be flattened and leaf-like (Fig. 421). In the genus 

 Phyllium this is carried so far that specimens nibble each other, apparently 

 under the impression that they are eating leaves. The nervures of the teg- 

 men are very peculiar and the hind- wings in the female are represented by 

 rudiments. As the Phyllium ages its leaf -like wings are said to assume 

 autumn tints. Other genera such as Lonchodes, Bacillus, etc., resemble twigs 

 or grass-stalks ; others again, such as Ceroys, bear many thorns or spines. 

 All are vegetable eaters and at times are so numerous and so voracious 

 as to be counted amongst the insect-pests. There are some 600 species, 

 for the most part tropical or sub-tropical ; the leaf-insect Phyllium. has a 

 predilection for islands. Four or five species occur in South Europe, but 

 the whole family is very intolerant of cold. Australia is perhaps 

 their present head-quarters. 



There are twelve sub-families : 



1. Sub-fam. Lonchodinae. This sub-family is confined to the Old 

 World. Lonchodes Gray ; Promachus Stal. 



2. Sub-fam. Bacunculinae, an American sub-family. Phantasis 

 Sauss. ; Lamponius Stal ; Bacunculus Burm. 



3. Sub-fam. Bacterinae. Bacteria Latr. : Haplopus Gray : 

 Bactridium Sauss. 



4. Sub-fam. Necroscinae. Necroscia Serv. 



5. Sub-fam. Clitumninae. Clitumnus Stal. 



6. Sub-fam. Acrophyllinae. Tropidoderus Gray. 



7. Sub-fam. Cladomorphinae. Cladomorphus Gray. 



8. Sub.-fam. Anisomorphinae, an American sub-family. Aniso- 

 morpha Gray. 



9. Sub-fam. Phasminae, with one exception Orobia, also an 

 American sub-family. Orobia Stal ; Phasma Stal : Planudes Stal. 



10. Sub.-fam. Aschipasminae. Aschipasma Westw. ; Perla 

 morpha Serv. 



11. Sub-fam. Bacillinae. Bacillus Latr. : Phalces Stal. 



12. Sub-fam. Phylliinae. Phyllium Illig. : Chitoniscus Stal. 



Sub-order II. SALTATORIA. 



Hind-legs lengthened and in most cases thickened for leaping ; auditory 

 and stridulating organs well developed. 



Fam. 6. Acridiidae.* Antennae short with at most thirty segments ; 

 ovipositor short and not protruding from hind-end of female ; tarsi with 

 but three segments ; auditory apparatus on first abdominal segment. 



This family is the most numerous both as regards species and individuals 

 of the Orthoptera. It comprises the common grasshoppers of our fields 

 and the destructive locusts whose countless hosts destroy the vegetation 

 of all the warmer regions of the earth. The head is large, bent downwards, 

 and partly concealed by the prothorax ; the eyes are large, and there are 

 three ocelli. The short antennae offer a ready mark of differentiation 

 from the Locustidae and Gryllidae. The prothorax is large, often crested 

 and visually warty. The whole body is somewhat flattened from side to 



* Bolivar., Ann. Soc. Esp., xiii, 1884, p. 1. De Saussure, Spicilegia 

 entomologica Genevensia, Pt. 2, 1887, and Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneva, xxviii, 

 1884. Brunner van Wattenwyl, Bull. Soc. Rouen, 1885. 



