87 



THE NORTHERN MOLE CRICKET. {Gryllotalpa borealis, Burm). 



BY JAMES FLETCHER, OTTAWA. 



The above-named and most interesting insect is I believe rare in Canada, as I have 

 for some years endeavoured unsuccessfully to obtain Canadian specimens. Good luck, 

 however, has at last favoured me. During the month of September last I was much 

 pleased to find amongst several packets of " live-stock " sent in for identification, one con- 

 taining a fine living female Mole Cricket. This was sent by Mr. W. W. Hilborn, who 

 had caught it in his garden at Leamington, in Essex county, Ont. My correspondent 

 stated that the insect was the first he had seen, and that none of his neighbours knew it. 



Upon opening the box carefully an exceedingly active seal-brown velvety creature 

 was seen to buiTow down out of sight beneath the light earth with which the box was half 

 filled. The contents of the box were then emptied into a tall glass jar, which I keep for 

 the purpose ot examining strange or refractory prisoners when they are first sent in. I 

 at once recognized my visitor as the long looked for mole cricket, and my pleasure was 

 much enhanced by finding it a far more beautiful and interesting creature than I had 

 anticipated. The only way to understand the habits of insects properly is to study them 

 in a living state, and the pleasure thus derived is so great that all who once begin this 

 method of investigation soon become fascinated with it. The Mole Cricket seems to be 

 easily domesticated, and I have now had this specimen in confinement for nearly three 

 months in a glass jar in my otfice, and it is apparently in perfect health. From being noc- 

 turnal in its habits and passing nearly all its life beneath the surface of the earth, it is 

 rather difiicult to observe. 



Its movements as it runs over the surface of the ground or over the hands are less 

 insect-like than those of any member of that class which so far has come under my observa- 

 tion and remind one very forcibly of the movements of an otter. Its bright black eyes 

 and the way it turns its head and looks up at you giving it a very animal-like appearance. 



A few weeks after the arrival of the female another specimen was sent to me from the 

 same locality, by Mr. George H. Mills, of Leamington. It had been found in a ditch 

 which was being cut through a swamp, and it was stated that it had appeared to be per- 

 fectly at home in water, swimming with great ease. This proved to be a male but it had 

 been injured in some way during its journey of 500 miles in the mail bag and died a few 

 days after arrival. The Mole Cricket (Fig. IS) belongs to the order Orthoptera, which 

 contains the grasshoppers, locusts, cockroaches, etc., and to the family 

 Gryllidce or crickets. It takes its name from its resemblance in 

 burrowing habits to the small mammal after which it is called. For 

 these habits it has its front pair of legs similarly modified so as to 

 especially adapt them for digging. They are certainly the most 

 remarkable feature about this insect and deserve special attention. 

 They are short, but exceedingly strong. The tibije or shanks, which 

 can be closed tightly into grooves on the thighs, are flattened and 

 broadly triangular in shape, bearing on the lower edge four curved 

 and hollowed claw like projection.s, the outer two of which are dis- 

 tinctly articulated at the base. These digging " hands " are turned 

 somewhat obliquely outwards like those of the mole, and this throws 

 the tarsi or feet to the outside where they are attached to the 

 shanks at about its centre. The feet are no less remarkable than 

 the shanks ; they consist of three joints, the first two of which are 

 broad, flattened and claw-like, the first much larger than the second. 

 These two joints lie obliquely in front of, and reach as far as the tips 

 of the two articulated claws of the shanks, which undoubtedly 

 strengthen them very much when in use. The third joint is small, 

 oval in shape, and bears two weak, almost straight claws ; this 

 joint lies at the back of the first two and is almost hidden Vjetween 

 them and the two corresponding claws of the shank. The other 

 legs are comparatively weak and the hind legs are not formed nor strengthened as in 

 other crickets for leaping, they are twice as long as those of the second pair ; but are 

 only slightly swollen. 



Fig. 18. 



