THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



17 



Life History.— The holes in which the eggs are laid are usually 

 drilled in hard or compact soil. The eggs are laid regularly and horizon- 

 tally and cemented together, as well as being surrounded with a liquid 

 cement which renders the mass waterproof. The young hatch the fol- 

 lowing spring, as soon as it becomes warm and they begin to reach 

 maturity early in June. Pairing begins soon after and eggs are 

 deposited from August to October. There are two forms of the adults, 



Fig. 15. — The valley srasshopper, Q^daleonotus enigma 

 ScucM. (Original.) 



characterized by long and short wings. The species is very prolific 

 and does much damage. It is only occasionally migratory. 



Distribution.— Throughout the lower San Joaquin Valley especially 

 in the Turloek region. 



Food Plants.— All forms of vegetation, including the foliage of 

 orchards and vineyards, uncultivated field crops, such as alfalfa, clover, 

 grain, etc., and cultivated crops, such as vegetables, corn, potatoes, etc., 

 are attacked. 



THE DIFFERENTIAL GRASSHOPPER. 



Melanoplus differ entialis Thomas. 

 (Fig. 16.) 



General Appearance.— This is one of the larger hoppers, averaging 

 one and five eighths inche.s from front to the tip of the tegmina or wing 

 covers. A very beautifully colored insect when fully matured. The 

 head, thorax, abdomen and first two pairs of legs are amber or rich 

 brown, the sutures being dark. The wing covers are brownish gray— the 

 true wings being transparent. The hind femora are yellow with black 

 cross lines, while the tibial and tarsi are bright red, the former with 

 black spots near the outer base. The spines and claws are black. The 

 antennffi are reddish with dusky tips. The nymphs are green. 



Life History.— Egg-laying begins about the middle of the summer. 

 The holes for the eggs are drilled into the soil in bare and vacant 

 places, especially in alfalfa fields. From sixty to eighty eggs are laid 

 by each female. They are protected from winter rains and freezes by 

 an excretion of the female which makes the capsule containing them 

 waterproof. They begin to hatch in the warmer spring months, appear- 

 2— H 



