2G6 Introduction to the Synopsis of the Acridida' 



All the species, so far as I am aware, lay elongate-cylindrical eggs', 

 tliose of Chhealtis conspersa, according to Mr. South, being about 0.25 

 (jf an inch in length, while those of (Edipoda corallipes, according to 

 luy own observations, are about 030 of an inch long, and slightly 

 bent. The young of the latter species, just before leaving the eggs, 

 are exactly like the young larva, the legs being neatly folded against 

 the sides of the venter and sternum, the tarsi resting against the 

 sternum ; the antennse are laid down over the sides of the face. 



The eggs are usually laid in the latter part of the summer or in 

 autumn, and remain in their place of deposit until the following spring 

 or summer, when they are hatched ; yet it would appear, from the 

 number of larvffi we often see late in autumn, that some species in the 

 southern and central portions of the United States produce more than 

 one brood in the year ; but our information is not sufficient to speak 

 positively on this point. 



These insects attain their full growth by simple moltings, the larvie 

 and pupse resembling the perfect form, except in size and development 

 of the wings. According to Zinnani, the Italian Calopteni undergo 

 their first moltings about the fortieth day after exclusion from the egg, 

 the second about twenty days afterward, and the third about sixteen 

 days later ; but the number of moltings does not appear to be uniform 

 in the different genera, six being the number usually given by the dif- 

 ferent authors. According l^o Koppen, Pachytylas migratorius molts 

 four times, the fourth molt producing the perfect insect. 



The sounds which are made by the Acrididoc, according to Mr. Scud- 

 der and Landois, are produced in two ways, first by rubbing the inner 

 surface of the hind legs against the outer surface of the elytra ; and, 

 second, by rubbing together the upper surface of the front edge of the 

 wings and the under surface of the elytra. According to Landois, the 

 inner surface of the hind femur is furnished, along the lower margin, 

 with a longitudinal row of minute, elegant, lancet-shaped, elastic teeth, 

 varying in number from eighty-five to ninety-three, which are scraped 

 acru- the nerves of the elytra, thus producing sound. 



Tlv species which employ the first method stridulate while at rest, 

 producing a low, buzzing sound; this is the usual, though not univer- 

 sal, method of the Blenohothri. Those Acrididm which produce sounds 

 ])y rubbing their wings and elytra together, stridulate only during 

 flight, and, as remarked by Mr. Scudder, "are nearly all confined to 

 the genus (Edipoda" producing a shorp, crackling sound, resembling 

 tlie noise of burning stubble. Each species appears to have its pecul- 

 iar note, so that, having a knowledge of ihe-Orthoptcra oi a given 

 locality, we can at once distinguish the species by the sound made. 



