356 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



The functionless short wings in Blatchlej^'s locust, as well 

 as the allied green-legged species, prevent their use in flight. 

 The wings have either become diminished in size, or have 

 never become developed, such as occurs in the long-wing species 

 like the Carolina locust. When their habits are taken into 

 consideration, one finds that the short-wing species of locusts 

 almost always live on plants and shrubbery, excepting during 

 the time they lay their eggs in the ground. Carrying the argu- 

 ment still further, Morse observes that short-wing species of 

 acridians generally are much less numerous proportionally 

 in treeless, arid districts than in luimid, forested regions, 

 east and west. Every flightless species of locust, excepting 

 the Tettigians, known in the eastern half of the continent, 

 is phytophilous, — plant-feeding, as distinguished from geophi- 

 lous, — ground-feeding, in habits. 



IMy own conclusions respecting long and short wingedness 

 is simply this: that it is a question of food supply and nutrition 

 derived therefrom. In the case of short-winged forms, they 

 are due to undcr-development as the result of scant food. 

 Conversely, in the case of the long-winged forms, they are the 

 product of better and more nutritious food supplied during 

 development. 



The Two-striped Locust and its Related Species 



The common two-striped locust, which I have shown in the 

 photographic illustration, is a member of the genus Melanoplus. 

 The members of this group have semi-transparent wings, as 

 shown in the upper right-hand figure representing these struc- 

 tures spread open. Owing to their clear wings, these insects 

 are quite as inconspicuous when flying as when they are on 

 the ground. Moreover, the species constituting tliis large 

 genus form the majority of the locusts seen in our fields, road- 

 sides, and meadows, sometimes flying up in swarms, especially 

 during August. At that time, on a sunlit day afield, when one 

 is walking toward the sun, the glimmer of .so many wings often 

 dazzles one's eyes. The two-striped and the lubberly locusts 

 are larger than the ordinary forms, and they are often foimd 

 associated. Neither of these insects is inclined to fly far when 



