198 FAMILY VI. ACRIDIDJE. THE LOCUSTS. 



equal to or slightly exceeding their length, male. Median carina of pro- 

 notum very feebly cut by the transverse carina one-fourth from base, the 

 latter truncate or nearly so. Tegmina about as long as pronotum, very 

 narrow, bluntly pointed, separated by twice their width. Length of body, 

 $, 3136, 9, 4048; of head, $,1, 9, 8 9; of antennae, $ and 9, 911; 

 of pronotum, $, 4 4.5, 9, 5.5 6; of tegmina, $, 4.5 6, 9, 5 6.5; of 

 hind femora, $, 13.515, 9, 1719 mm. (Fig. 73.) 



This easily recognized locust occurs everywhere throughout 

 the mainland of Florida on the wire grass and other undergrowth 

 of open pine woods and among the tall grasses and sedges along 

 the margins of ponds and lakes. In the northern and central 

 parts of the State the majority of the eggs probably hatch in late 

 summer and early autumn, as the most of those mentioned in the 

 numerous records of Davis and R. & H., as noted at that season, 

 are nymphs. About Dunedin the nymphs far outnumber the 

 adults between November and February 1st. After that date the 

 adults begin to be more plentiful and by April 15 the most of 

 those noted are mature. 



In general appearance R. breripciine is one of the most pecu- 

 liar of our North American Acrididae, its form and color serving- 

 it admirably for protection among the tall grasses and pine 

 needles. The first specimens ever seen by me were taken near 

 Ormoud, Fla., in March, 1890, and my field notes regarding them 

 were afterwards published (1002, 140) as follows: "The first 

 mature males of the slender-bodied, grayish-brown locust, Radino- 

 tdtiiin Ircriix'inic (Thos.) were seen on March 22. To-day (April 

 5) the adult females are abundant. It is the most curious Orthop- 

 teron found here at this season and has been recorded only from 

 one or two points in Florida. Here it is common on the clumps 

 of wire grass, in sandy places along the edges of woodland paths 

 and old fields. Its short wings prevent it from flying, and as it is 

 but a poor leaper, it is readily taken with the fingers. It relies 

 upon protective mimicry as its chief mode of defense; hence its 

 organs of locomotion, wings and legs, have developed but little, 

 the former being mere pads, the latter very slender and used 

 mainly for walking and for clasping the stems of grass. The 

 broAvu, linear body, when extended lengthwise along a dead grass 

 stem, is scarcely noticeable, so closely does its hue correspond to 

 that of the grass. The insect remains motionless until about to 

 be seized, when it sometimes gives a short leap to one side." 



The known range of 7?. brcripciuic extends from Yemassee, S. 

 Car., Augusta and Macon, Ga., south throughout Florida, and as 



