140 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



yellow ; abdomen with transverse rows of minute blackish dots ; 

 hindmost thighs whitish within and without, the white portion 

 bounded by a row of minute distant black dots, and crossed, her- 

 ring-bone fashion, by numerous brown lines ; hindmost shanks 

 reddish, with yellowish white spines, which are tipped with black. 

 Length, to the end of the abdomen, If inch ; the wing-covers 

 expand over 3 inches. 



This insect was brought to me, from Martha's Vineyard, by Mr. 

 Robert Treat Paine. It bears a close resemblance in form to 

 Acrydium Americanum of De Geer, a much larger and more 

 showy Southern species. 



2. Acrydium jlavo-vittatum.* Yellow-striped locust. 



Olive-colored, with a yellowish line on each side from the fore- 

 head to the tips of the wing-covers ; hindmost shanks and feet 

 blood-red, the spines tipped with black ; wings transparent, faintly 

 tinged with pale green, and netted with greenish brown lines. 

 The abdomen of the male is very obtuse and curves upwards 

 at the end, and is furnished, on each side of the tip, with a rather 

 large oblong square appendage, which has a little projecting angle 

 in the middle of the lower side. Length, to tip of the abdomen, 

 from 1 inch to \\ ; expands from \\ inch to 2 inches. 



This and the following species probably belong to the subgenus 

 Oxya of Serville. The yellow-striped locust is one of our most 

 common insects. It is readily known by its color, and by the 

 two yellowish lines on the thorax, extending, when the insect ac- 

 quires wings, along the inner margin of the wing-covers. It is 

 very troublesome in gardens, climbing upon the stems of beans, 

 peas, and flowers, devouring the leaves of petals, and defiling 

 them with its excrement. The young begin to appear in June, 

 and they come to their growth and acquire their wings by the first 

 of August. When about to moult, like other locusts, they cling 

 to the stem of some plant, till the skin bursts and the insect with-' 



* This species agrees, in some respects, with Serville's Acrydium olivaceum, but 

 it is a smaller insect, the hind shanks are not blue, and the last ventral segment 

 of the male is not deeply notched at tip, but is entire and somewhat pointed. It 

 does not agree any better with Say's description of Gryllus bivittatus, which pos- 

 sibly is the same as Serville's species abovo named. 



