6 



ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



at that time, Fig 1 . 4 lias been constructed to illustrate 

 this interesting transformation. 



Up to this time in its growth the grasshopper is spo- 

 ken of as being in the nymphal stage. The plate shows 

 the transformation from the nymph to the adult, or as 

 we might say, from youth to maturity. The full-grown 

 nymph ceases to eat, and with the head almost invaria- 

 bly downward, the antenna? drooping, fastens its claws 

 firmly into the stalk or blade and remains quiet for a 

 short period, during which it can be handled without 

 being disturbed ; a pulsating motion begins in the cen- 

 ter of the back of the thorax ; this increases until the 

 whole thorax moves up and down ; soon the skin splits 

 along the back from the top of the head to a line cross- 

 ing the base of the front wings; the upheaving action 

 of the thoracic muscles continues until the body drops 

 to the ground, leaving the nymphal skin clinging to the 

 leaf; the antennas lie on each side of the face, and are 

 thus drawn out. from under the body; the wings come 

 straight out of the pads, narrow and much wrinkled. 

 They are about five-eighths of an inch long when the 

 insect falls to the ground. The insect now is pale, al- 

 most colorless. Inside of an hour, depending upon the 

 weather and time of day, the wings attain their full 

 length, one inch to one and one-quarter inches, and the 

 characteristic colors appear. The legs are not brought 

 into use in discarding this skin. Frequently the claws 

 of the old skeleton break away from their attachment, 

 and the insect falls to the ground. This in no way 

 interferes with the transformation. The insect, when 

 free from the old covering, though its limbs are quite 

 soft and unable to maintain its weight well, crawls to 



