ORTHOPTERA 



55 



Another species, 0. nigricornis, attracts attention because the female 

 lays her eggs in a row in the stems of plants, especially in the canes of 

 raspberries (Fig. 91). 



The field-crickets 



These are the common 

 brown to almost black crickets 

 with which we are probably 

 most familiar. 



They abound everywhere, 

 in pastures, meadows, and 

 gardens; and certain species 

 enter our dwellings . They lurk 

 under stones or other objects 

 on the ground or burrow into 



Fig. 92. — Gryllus 



Fig. 93. — Gryllo- 

 lalpa hexadactyla. 



the earth. They are chiefly solitary, nocturnal in- 

 sects; yet many can be seen in the fields in the 

 daytime. They usually feed upon plants but are 

 sometimes predacious. With most species the eggs 

 are laid in the autumn, usually in the ground, and 

 are hatched in the following summer. The greater 

 number of the old crickets die on the approach of winter; but a few 

 survive the cold season. In many of the species there are both short- 

 winged and long-winged forms. In Figure 92 is shown a common short- 

 winged form. The house cricket of Europe, Gryllus domesticus, is now 

 present in the northeastern United States. 



Fig. 91. — Stem of black 

 raspberry with the eggs of 

 (Ecanlhus nigricornis: c, d, egg 

 enlarged. (From Riley.) 



The mole-crickets 



These are called mole-crickets because they burrow in the ground like 

 moles. The form of the body is suited to this mode of life. The front 

 tibiae, especially, are fitted for digging; they are greatly broadened, and 

 shaped somewhat like hands, or the feet of a mole (Fig. 93). 



The mole-crickets are not common insects in this country; but oc- 

 casionally they are found in great numbers in a limited locality. They 

 make burrows in moist places from six to eight inches below the surface 

 of the ground, and feed upon the tender roots of various plants, and also 

 on other insects. The eggs are deposited in a neatly constructed sub- 

 terranean chamber, about the size of a hen's egg. 



In this country, at least, mole-crickets are nocturnal in habits, coming 

 forth at night to feed and remaining hidden in their burrows during the 

 day. 



