No. l6.] ORTHOPTERA OF CONNECTICUT. 63 



are included here which contain the majority of our well-known 

 insects of the order Orthoptera. 



Key to Families. 



1. Antennas much longer than the body, very slender, 



tapering. Ocelli often wanting, tarsi three- or four- 

 jointed. Hearing organs usually near the base of the 



fore tibiae. Ovipositor usually much elongated 2 



Antennae much shorter than the body, ocelli three. 

 Tarsi three-jointed. Hearing organs when present 

 situated on the sides of the basal joint of the abdo- 

 men. Ovipositor consisting of two pairs of short, 

 horny plates, more or less curved, with the tips 

 diverging ACRIDID^ p. 63 



2. Tarsi four-jointed. Ocelli generally absent. Tegmina 



with the sides sloping. Ovipositor usually in the 

 shape of a flattened, sword-shaped blade, the tip not 



expanded LOCUSTID^ p. 123 



Tarsi three-jointed. Ocelli variable. Tegmina flat- 

 tened above, with the sides bent abruptly downward. 

 Ovipositor usually exserted and consisting of a nearly 

 straight or upcurved needle, the tip often enlarged 



GRYLLID^ p. 147 



ACRIDID^. 



This family contains the short-horned grasshoppers which 

 are properly termed " locusts." In Connecticut they are ordi- 

 narily called simply " grasshoppers." Their numbers outrank 

 those of the other families. 



The Acrididcc are readily distinguished from the other fami- 

 lies by the antennas, which are shorter than the body. They 

 may be filiform, ensiform, or rarely clavate. The joints are 

 distinct and are often flattened towards the base. The head is 

 usually short and extended horizontally. The ocelli are present 

 and three in number. The foveolae are usually present, their size 

 and shape furnishing characters used in classification. The 

 pronotum is somewhat saddle-shaped, and usually covers the 

 three thoracic segments, though in the Tettigime it extends back 

 over the abdomen. The tegmina and wings when present and 



