LOCUSTS, 215 



other species may prove to be locusts but have not migrated in swarms 

 in recent years. 



These two species are constantly confused, not only with each 

 other, but with such insects as the Black-spotted Grasshopper and other 

 large grasshoppers. Both are over two inches in length and half an 

 inch across the thorax ; this eliminates all but a few insects in India. 

 Green does not enter into the colour scheme of either. The North- 

 West Locust is a uniform purple red or yellow with no stripes, with 

 wings uniformly spotted from base to apex and with indented lines 

 round the prothorax. The Bombay Locust has streaks of colour on the 

 prothorax and wings, very faint indented lines and is very variable 

 in colour. It can be at once distinguished from the North- West Locust 



'<^ 



Fig. 254. 

 The Bombay Locust. 



by its stripes and by the absence of indented lines. It will, however, be 

 confused with the Black-spotted Grasshopper -which is of robuster build, 

 conspicuously blotched in black and white, with a large white blotch on 

 the side of the prothorax ; the latter never varies in colour. 



The figures above- help in distinguishing the species, but owing to 

 the colour variation of the Bombay Locust it will always be confused 

 with the other species unless actual specimens are examined. 



The North-West Locust extends over Baluchistan, North- West 

 India, South Afghanistan, Persia, Arabia, Cyprus, and Northern Africa, 

 with permanent breeding grounds in widely separated localities in this 

 vast area. 



From North- West India it extends in a general easterly and south- 

 easterly direction over the Punjab, Central India, the northern division 

 of the Bombay Presidency into the United Provinces^ Bengal, Assam, 

 ?ind as far south as Madras. 



