SYNOPSIS OF THE ORTHOPTERA OF WESTERN EUROPE. 



41 



2.2. Head marked with lines or spots ; ocelli 

 arranged in a triangle . . 

 3. Large ; wings generally long. 



4. Head black, with pale thin lines ; body 



chestnut 4. hispaxicus, Ramb. 



4.4. Head yellowish ; with three horizontal 



bands ; body yellowish 5. domesticus, L. 



3.3. Smaller; wings generally short; colour 



chestnut . . . . . . . • . . 6. durdkialensis, Latr. 



1.1. Hinder tibia3 with four to five spines on each side 

 above ; head black, frons testaceous, with an 

 arched, pale, transverse line .. .. ..7. frontalis, Sauss. 



1. Gryllus campestris, Linn. 



Easy to recognise by stout build, shining black coloav, yellow basal 

 spot on elytra, and, above all, by the disproportionately broad head. 

 Length of body, 20min.-26mm. ^ and ? ; of pronotum, 4inm.- 

 4-5mm. ^ and $ ; of elytra, 14ram.-18mm. 3 , 13mm. -16mm. ? ; of 

 ovipositor, 12mm.-14rani. $ . 



Generally common in hot and dry places throughout Europe, 

 except the north. In England it is very rare and local, being only 

 recorded from a few isolated localities. It is abundant in France, 

 though rarer in the extreme north ; in Switzerland it is common up 

 to an altitude of about 6500ft. In Belgium it occurs locally at Con- 

 droz, Arlon, Campine, and Hesbaye. It is abundant in the southern 

 countries. In the early summer the shrill chirp of the male resounds 

 in afternoons on sunny hillsides, but the insect is very nimble, and 

 difficult to catch. It is mature in the spring and early summer; 

 nymphs occur in the autumn. The life-history of this popular favourite 

 has been described by numerous authors ; the Field Cricket is the 

 subject of Gilbert White's most charming letters. The occasional 

 form, with fully developed wings, has been described by Krauss under 

 the name var. caadata. The larvje all black, with a metallic bronze 

 sheen. 



2. Gryllus blmaculatus, de Geer [ — capensii>, Fabr.). 



Resembles the field cricket, but the basal spot in the elytra is paler, 

 the Avings longer, the pronotum is more depressed, and by the head 

 which is no broader than the pronotum. Length of body, 23mm.- 

 25mm. ^ , 20mm. -28mm. 5 ; of pronotum, 4mm.-4-5mm. S , 4mm.- 

 6-5mm. $ ; of elytra, 16mm. -18mm. J , 14mm. -20mm. ? ; of ovi- 

 positor, 12mm.- 16mm. 5 . 



This species resembles the preceding, but is generally easy to dis- 

 tinguish ; there is a variety with reddish elytra, and another with 

 short wings. It is distributed throughout Africa and Asia, and varies 

 remarkably in size. In Europe it is confined to the south, where it is 

 found in wild places, chiefly near water. In France it is recorded 

 from Cannes, and also from Corsica, and in Italy, at Campo Rosso 

 near Vintimiglia in the north, and commoner in the south. In Spain, 

 it does not extend to the centre ; in Portugal it is known from Troia, 

 Cadaval, and Algarve. The larva^ have some pale spots and no 

 metallic sheen. 



3. Gryllus desertus, Pallas { — nielas, Charp. = i/'/sf/s, Strville). 

 Smaller ; black ; head entirely black, with no pale markings, and 

 elytra and wings generally short, sometimes long. Length of body, 



