Orthoptera 175 



slender ; the insects bear a wonderful likeness to the twigs and 

 branches of trees, and are familiarly known as "walking sticks." 

 In some Indian Phasmids, however — the " leaf-insects " (i'/iyZ/W/) 

 — the body and leg segments are flattened into leaf-like plates. 

 In the male the forewings are very small, while the hindwings are 

 developed ; but in the female the hindwings are greatly reduced, 

 while the forewings are large and leaf-like, with an immense 

 rounded costal area in front of the radial nervure, the anal nervure 

 being close to the dorsum of the wing. Phasmids are sluggish in 

 their habits, but devour greedily the leaves of the plants whereon 

 they feed. The eggs are enclosed singly in curiously shaped 

 capsules resembling seeds. The geographical range of Phasmids 

 is similar to that of Mantids (109 a). 



The insects of the three remaining families of Orthoptera are all 

 characterised by the possession of very long and strong hind-legs 

 modified for jumping. They are remarkable in having very perfect 

 ears, and (the males especially) stridulating organs which produce 

 chirping sounds. 



Locustidae-^ — The Locustida, comprising the familiar Grass- 

 hoppers, migratory Locusts and their allies, are distinguished 

 from the two succeeding families by short feelers which never 

 have more than thirty segments, and by the ovipositor in the 

 female not projecting far beyond the end of the hind-body. There 

 are three tarsal segments. These insects are provided with an ear 

 situated on either side of the first segment of the hind-body ; this 

 organ has already been described (p. 45). The male locustids 

 make a chirping sound by scraping rows of pegs on the inner 

 edge of the hind thighs over the sharp edge of the nervures of the 

 forewings. The forewings are long and narrow, the hindwings 

 ample, the folding anal area being largely developed. The insects 

 of this family (see fig. 63) live entirely on vegetable substances ; 

 certain species multiply at times into enormous swarms, which 

 commit great damage on the crops in warm countries. The 

 females, with their short stout ovipositors, dig holes in the ground 

 wherein to lay their eggs, covering them with a fluid secretion 

 which hardens into an irregular capsule. The Locustids are 

 the most numerous of all the orthopteran families, and are met 

 with in all parts of the world. 



Phasgonuridae.' — The PhasgonuriJ^, including the long-horned 

 or tree grasshoppers, are readily distinguished from the preceding 

 family by the possession of long, slender feelers made up of many 

 more segments than thirty, and often much longer than the body. 

 The ear (described on p. 43) is situated at the base of the fore- 

 shin, and there are four tarsal segments to each foot. These insects 

 produce a shrill chirping note by the friction of a transverse file 



1 Acridiidte of most authors. - Locustidie of most authors. 



