176 



The Orders of Insects 



beneath the base of the left forewing over a sharp ridge on the 

 dorsum of the right. They frequent trees and live for the most 

 part on leaves, though some species are known to devour other 

 insects. The female's ovipositor is long and prominent, some- 

 times as long as the body ; by means of it she buries her eggs 

 in the ground for safety. The forewings of Phasgonurids are, 

 as a rule, relatively less narrow than those of Locustids ; in some 

 tropical genera they are convex in outline, both in colour and 

 neuration closely resembling leaves. Wingless forms are not 

 uncommon. The insects of this family are abundant in the 

 tropics, but become rare in cooler regions ; several species, how- 

 ever, are found in our islands. 



Gryllidae. — The GrylUdj;, or Crickets, are closely allied to the 



preceding family, which they 

 / resemble in having long feelers 

 and ovipositors ; in many 

 species the abdominal cerco- 

 pods are also very long. The 

 ears have the same situation as 

 in the Phasgonurids, and the 

 chirping organs are also 

 similar, except that there is a 

 stridulating file under each 

 forewing. The forewings are 

 remarkable in structure, the 

 anal area lying flat over the 

 body, while the rest of the 

 wing wiien at rest is turned 

 downwards at the side of the 

 insect. The hindwings are 

 often longer than the fore- 

 FiG. 95.— Cricket {Gryllus domestkus, wings, as well as broader, and 

 Linn.) Europe, a. male; b. female, project beyond the tips of the 

 Natural size. From Marlatt, Bull. 4 latter when rolled up. Wing- 

 (n.s.) Div. Ent. U.S. Dept. Agr. 1 r 1, ^ 



less lorms, now^ever, are not 



uncommon. Most Crickets are vegetable-feeders, but the Mole- 

 Crickets (Gryllotalpa), characterised by their broad and power- 

 ful digging fore-legs and short ovipositors, are largely carnivorous. 

 Crickets are found in all parts of the world, the House-cricket 

 {Gryllus domesticus, fig. 95) being one of the most familiar of domestic 

 insects. 



ORDER 5.— PLATYPTERA. 



This order has been founded (97) for the reception 

 of several families of the old Neuroptera, characterised 

 by the possession of biting jaws, the mandibles being 



