454 Report of the Department of Entomology of the 



and vines clean is an efficient measure for the prevention of damages. 

 While the susceptibility of these insects to arsenicals has not been 

 conclusively demonstrated it is believed that the numbers of the 

 tree crickets are reduced by summer applications of these poisons. 

 Raspberry canes showing extensive oviposition should be removed 

 in the course of winter or spring pruning and burned to destroy eggs 

 contained in them. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Certain species of tree crickets have long been included in the 

 category of injurious insects, and economic treatises seldom fail to 

 contain an account of them. But as common and widely distributed 

 as are these creatures, no little confusion has existed as to their 

 identities, and moreover there has been very little detailed knowledge 

 of their various activities as fruit pests. The studies herein described 

 were undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining the life histories, 

 habits and economy of (Ecanthus niveus De Geer, (E. angustipennis 

 Fitch and CE. nigricornis Walker, which are the most injurious 

 species attacking bush and tree fruits in New York. 



TREE CRICKETS AND THEIR WORK. 



GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



The tree crickets discussed in this bulletin belong to the genus 

 (Ecanthus 1 of the family Gryllidae. They are orthopterons and are 

 near relatives of such insects as grasshoppers, locusts, etc., and, as 

 would be expected from such relationships, they have in their struct- 

 ures and in certain habits points in common with them. As implied 

 in their popular name, the tree crickets exhibit arboreal habits, 

 living principally on trees, shrubs, weeds and even low-lying plant 

 growth. In addition to their preference of plants for their various 

 activities they exhibit also marked differences in shape and color 

 from the robust, dark-colored house and field crickets which are 

 familiar to most readers. They are slender creatures, usually light 

 green in color, and possess transparent wings and wing covers; the 

 latter are in the case of the males very broad and when at rest lie 



1 This presumably means " flower-inhabiting " and is derived from the Greek 

 words oTAo?, house, and avdos, flower. 



