THE SHORT-HORNED GRASSHOPPERS 

 OR TRUE LOCUSTS 



(Family AcridiidcB.) 



The insects of this family are everywhere abundant both in 

 number of species and individuals. They comprise some of the 

 most destructive insects known and the migratory species have 

 devastated the crops of many countries, more especially Russia, 

 portions of South Europe, Algeria, India, Cape Colony, the 



Fig. 220. — Melanoplus devastator. (After Riley.) 



Argentine Republic and in former years some of the western 

 United States. In the insects of this family the antennae are short, 

 much shorter than the body, the ovipositor of the female is short 



Fig. 221. — Schistocerca americana. ( After Riley.) 



and composed of four separate plates and the tarsi are three- 

 jointed. The hind legs are the longest and usually have stout 

 femora, especially near the base. Among the most abundant 

 and injurious species occurring in this country are the western 



