CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF COMMON INSECTS III 



Life-history. — Nymphs hatch from eggs in spring; these mature in 

 August and September, when eggs are laid in the ground and over- 

 winter there (Figs. 65 and 66). 



The Lesser Migratory Locust (Mela- 

 noplus atlanis Riley). — ^A native Ameri- 

 can species; often abundant in Eastern 

 Canada, causing serious injury. Com- 

 pared with M. femur-rubrum the fe- 

 male has a yellow under surface, and 

 more distinctly banded hind femora, 

 and the male has the apex of the sub- 

 genital plate notched, the cerci shorter 

 and less tapering, and longer tegmina 

 which are also more distinctly spotted. 

 It has a distinct patch of black on the neck or collar. Egg deposition 

 occurs from July to September. Mature forms appear from July ist, 

 and are often abundant in open sandy regions with sparse vegetation. 



Fig. 66. — Egg pod of locust 

 opened to show arrangement of 

 eggs; individual eggs at side, 

 natural size. {After Gibson, Ent. 

 Circ. 5, Dept. Agric, Ottawa.) 



^^ 



x!=*^N 



Pig. 67. — Lesser migratory grasshopper {Melanoplus atlanis): Above, adult 

 male; below, adult female. About twice natural size. {After W. R. Walton, U. S. 

 Bur. Ent.) 



The nymphs undergo five moults; the eggs are deposited in the ground 

 in small pod-like capsules, and hatch in the spring (Fig. 67). 



