654 



FAMILY VIII. GRYLLIDJE. THE CRICKETS. 



Fig. 215. Dorsal view of male 

 type, X i-S. (After R. & H.) 



the ground at the base of these plants, many specimens were 

 found. The roots of the lettuce, tomatoes and beets were found 



to be extensively damaged by this in- 

 sect, in many cases all but the main 

 root having been completely de- 

 voured. When disturbed individuals 

 always sought to escape under the 

 ground, disappearing in the sandy 

 soil with astonishing rapidity ; on 

 the surface they could run very 

 nimbly, occasionally giving a short 

 hop, but not attempting to fly. 

 There is no doubt, however, but that 

 both this species and vicintis can fly 

 vigorously and during migrations, 

 which undoubtedly occur, probably 

 resort almost wholly to this method 

 of locomotion. At night the rich 

 gutteral "grrrr' of the cricket could be heard on all sides, but no 

 individuals were found on the exposed surface of the ground." 

 (R. & H.) 



Subfamily II. TRIDACTYLIN^E. 



THE SAND OR PYGMY MOLE CRICKETS. 



Burrowing crickets of very small size, having the body smooth, 

 shining; ocelli three, very small; antennae 11-jointed, 76 widely 

 separated at base, differing from those of all our other Gryllidre 

 in being submoniliform, the segments distinct and similar to 

 those of many Coleoptera; pronotum short, covering but little of 

 the head, not prolonged backward; tegmina of male without a 

 tympanum ; front tibiae without a hearing organ ; hind femora 

 much swollen, strongly saltatorial ; tarsi of front and middle legs 

 m our genera two-jointed, of hind ones one-jointed or wanting; 

 abdomen ending in four slender, tapering, bristly appendages, 

 the lower pair styliform. 



The above characterization shows clearly the important dif- 

 ferences between these pygmy mole crickets and their larger 

 cousins the Gryllotalpinae. In any other group of insects such a 

 combination of different characters would be deemed sufficient 

 for family ranking and I have no hesitancy, therefore, in raising 

 them to subfamily standing. Two of the three known genera oc- 

 cur in our eastern states. The principal literature pertaining to 



76 Saussure (1877, 210) says there are only ten joints but in both our American genera 

 there are eleven. 



