lb- n35 



456. 

 GRYLLOTALPA VULGARIS. 



The Mole-cricket, Jarr-worm, Eve Churr, or Earth 

 Crab. 



Order Orthoptera. Fam. Achetidae. 



Type of the Genus, Gryllus Gryllotalpa Linn. 

 Gryllotalfa Ray, Lat., Curt. — AchetaF«&. — Gryllus (Acheta)Zeww. 

 Antenna inserted before the eyes, shorter than the thorax, slightly 

 setaceous, pubescent and composed of from 60 to 110 joints ; 

 basal joint the stoutest, somewhat ovate, 2nd oblong, and larger 

 than the following, which form very narrow rings at first, vary- 

 ing a little in their length, but towards the apex they are longer 

 and somewhat globose (1, the basal joints), 

 Labrum exserted, flexible at the base, nearly orbicular and con- 

 vex, the margin fringed with bristles (2). 



Mandibles not large, elongate-trigonate, a little curved at the 

 apex, with a triangular tooth below on the inside, and another 

 at the centre, with a third behind it, smaller in one mandible 

 than in the other ; a longitudinal line of hairs down the outside 

 and a few on the inside towards the base (3) . 

 Maxilla elongated, terminated by a curved acute horny lobe with 

 a very slender and acute tooth beneath, and a long curved pal- 

 piform lobe outside, fleshy at the apex. Palpi long and 5 -jointed, 

 2 basal joints transverse, the others long and equal, 3rd the stout- 

 est, compressed, very convex outside, 4th and 5th subclavate, the 

 latter terminated by a globose fleshy membrane (4). 

 Mentum suborbicular. Lip elongated, terminated by a cordate 

 fleshy lobe, from the base of which arise 2 stiffs parallel lobes, and 

 on each side 2 stout rigid and pilose ones, all of the same length, 

 (these appear to be additional Palpi) . Palpi inserted below them 

 stout rigid and triarticulate, basal joint subglobose, 2nd and 3rd 

 long of equal length, the former very pilose, the latter ovate and 

 fleshy at the apex (5) . 

 Head conical : eyes small, nearly lateral : ocelli 2, minute, placed be- 

 tween the eyes. Thorax ovate, concave before. Elytra partially 

 lying one over the other, the cells at the base more irregular in the 

 male (9 (J), than in the female. "Wings ample, reticulated, longer 

 than the body, folded longitudinally and lying upon the back when at 

 rest. Abdomen large nearly alike in both sexes, with a setaceous 

 pubescent and hairy process on each side the penultimate joint, as long 

 as the antenna ; the apex divided into 3 short lobes in the female : 

 ovipositor none. Legs, aiiterior very strong and dilated, posterior 

 formedforleaping. Coxse large, especially the anterior (8 b). Thighs, 

 anterior short and broad, with a sharp compressed tooth at the base 

 (c) ; hinder pair long and incrassated. Tibiae of fore legs trigonate 

 palmate, the apex divided into 4 strong teeth (d) ; posterior long, fur- 

 nished with strong spines outside towards the apex. Tarsi triarticu- 

 late, anterior compressed and trigonate, inserted on the side of the 

 tibia, 2 first joints produced on the inside and acute, the \st large, 

 '3rd small ovate (e) ; 1st and 3rd joints long and the 2nd globose in 

 the other feet. Claws simple and small, straight and unequal in the 

 forefeet. 



