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Vol. XXXVI. 



LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 1904. 



No. 9 



THE CRICKETS OF ONTARIO. 



BY E. M. WALKER, B. A., M. B. , TORONTO. 



(Continued from page 188.) 

 Genus Gryllus. 

 This genus contains the common large black field crickets and the 

 house cricket, which has been introduced into this country from the Old 

 World. But three species have been taken in Ontario. All of these arc 

 dimorphic as regards wing-length, the short-winged form being the normal 

 one in the field crickets, the long-winged form in the house cricket. 

 Key to the Ontario species of Gryllus : 

 a. Black species, the tegmina and parts of the body sometimes dull 

 reddish-brown ; first joint of antennae not projecting beyond front of 

 head. (Field crickets.) 



b. Ovipositor nearly or fully half as long again as hind femora, 

 usually exceeding 16 mm. in length ; the male stout, with 



large and broad head 9. abbreviahis. 



bb. Ovipositor seldom if ever more than 14 mm. or less than 

 12 mm., rarely more than one-fourth as long again as hind 

 femora; the male more slender with narrower and less 



swollen head 10. peiuisylvanicus. 



aa. Straw-coloured species with some dark brown or blackish markings on 

 head and thorax ; first joint of antennas projecting slightly beyond 



front of head. (House crickets) 11. domesticus. 



9. Gryllus abbreviatus, Serville. The Common Field Cricket. 

 Gryllus abbreviatics, Serv., Hist. Nat. des Ins., 1839, 336. 

 Acheta abbreviaia, Harr., Ins. Inj. to Veg., 1862, 152. 

 Gryllus luctuoszis, Serv., Hist. Nat. des Ins., 1839, 335- 

 Gryllus angusius, Scudd., Journ. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VII., 1862, 

 427. 



This is the common field cricket with which everyone is familiar. It 

 varies greatly in size in Ontario, according to locality, southern specimens 

 averaging much larger than northern ones. The measurements given in 

 the published descriptions of this species are too large for average 



