7' 1^3 

 293. 



ACHETA SYLVESTRIS. 



Order Orthoptera. Fam. Achetidae Leach. Gryllides Lat. 



Type of the Genus, Gryllus domesticus Linn. 

 AcHETA Fab., Lea., Sam. — Gryllus Linn., Lat. 



Antennce as long or longer than the body, inserted close to the 

 eyes in front of the face, setaceous, composed of innumerable 

 transverse joints, the basal one very large and globose (1). 

 Labium transverse-oval, slightly ciliated (2). 

 Mandibles strong, subquadrate, truncated obliquely, externally 

 convex, the apex crenate-dentate (3). 



Maxilla short, with a horny lobe on the inside, terminated by 2 

 very acute teeth and ciliated internally ; external lobe palpiform, 

 biarticulate ? the basal joint or process short, 2nd long, slightly 

 curved and rounded at the apex. Palpi long pubescent, 4 -jointed, 

 1st joint not very short, attenuated and curved at the base, the 

 remainder nearly equal in size and length, the 3rd and 4th trun- 

 cated obliquely, especially the latter which is hollowed at the 

 apex (4). 



Mentiim large, transverse, dilated anteriorly. Labium long and 

 fleshy, dilated at the base, terminated by 2 conniving, articulated 

 lobes, with 2 acute ones arising from their base and meeting in 

 the centre ; behind them is a large hollow fleshy appendage. 

 Palpi inserted on each side the labium towards its base, attached 

 to 2 subglobose scapes, triarticulate, basal joint short, incras- 

 sated at the apex, 2nd longer and robust, 3rd the longest, sub- 

 clavate, somewhat ciliated internally (5). 

 Eyes lateral. Head large subglobose, as broad as the Thorax which 

 is more or less quadrate. Abdomen rather short and thick, produ- 

 cing 2 long lateral setaceous tails; the female furnished with a long 

 porrected Ovipositor. Elytra veined differently in the sexes, with 

 reticulated Wings, frequently longer than the body and sometimes 

 none. Legs j 4 anterior short, posterior pair formed for leaping, 

 the Thighs very robust, Tibiae producing a double row of spines and 

 several long curved ones at the apex. Tarsi triarticulate, basal joint 

 long, ivith short spines down the back and terminated by long ones, 

 2nd joint very obscure, 3rd simple. Claws curved. Pulvilli none, 

 (8, a portion of hind leg). 



Sylvestris Fab. Ent. Syst. 2. 33. 18. 



Male. Ochreous inclining to ferruginous. Antennae fuscous. 

 Head black, shining, with the margin of the eyes and a pen- 

 tagon in front of the face ochreous. Thorax pilose, the back 

 spotted and the sides entirely black. Elytra not quite covering 

 the body (7 a), piceous, the principal nervure and the base pale. 

 Abdomen pubescent,black, obscurely spotted with ochre (b), tails 

 pilose (c). Legs variegated with black. 



Female. Elytra very short, dirty ochre, sides and nervures pi- 

 ceous. Wings none. 



Li the Cabinets of Mr. Dale and the Author, 



