32 INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



injured. The feeding habits of this species place it among the bene- 

 ficial insects and partially offset the damage done in depositing the 

 js. The young and old alike feed on soft-bodied insects, principally 

 plant lice, and due to their ravenous appetites they are able to consume 

 great numbers of other injurious pests. 



Control. — The method of eliminating subsequent broods and attacks 

 consists in cutting out all canes showing the characteristic signs of 

 having been punctured for egg-laying. It has been said by many reli- 

 able authorities that the good done by the tree-cricket in destroying 

 injurious inserts more than recompenses the farmer or fruit grower 

 for the harm done and that only in rare cases should the eggs be de- 

 stroyed, even after the injured canes or branches have been removed. 



THE SNOWY TREE-CRICKET 



(Ecanthus niveus De Geer 



Description.— The adult insect is slightly more than ^ inch long and 

 light yellow or greenish in color and appears much like the California 

 tree cricket. The antenna? are very long and hair-like. There is one 

 black dot on each of the two basal segments of the antennae. The 

 black-tipped ovipositor also helps to distinguish the female. The eggs 

 are about £ inch long, slender, slightly curved and white. They are 

 inserted in the stems of the host. 



Life History.— The life history is not essentially different from that 

 of the California tree-cricket. 



Nature of Work.— The work of this species is practically the same 

 as that of the California tree-cricket. 



Distribution.— The distribution of the snowy tree-cricket is not well 

 known. Mr. A. N. Caudell has received specimens from this State. 



Food Plants. — The tree-crickets are usually predaceous in their 

 feeding habits, but do however occasionally eat foliage. They never 

 destroy enough foliage, however, to become injurious. The principal 

 injury is in the method of egg-laying, as described under the Cali- 

 fornia tree-cricket. According to P. J. Parrott, 20 the eggs of the snowy 

 tree-cricket are deposited singly in the bark and not in compact rows, 

 as has been the general belief. Apple, peach and plum are the pre- 

 ferred 'Orchard hosts, Avhile elm, willow and other trees are also 

 attacked! In confinement eggs are laid in canes of the raspberry. 



Control.— For control measures, see the same under the California 

 tree-cricket. 



LOCUSTID.E (Family) 



THE LONG-HORNED GRASSHOPPERS 



KATYDIDS 



The members of this family are characterized by having long filiform 

 antenna?, four-jointed tarsi and a six-pieced, flat, sickle-shaped or 

 straight ovipositor. Many are pale or bright green, though a large 

 number are quite dark. Many of them are great singers. The wings, 

 when present, are usually large but thin and delicate. Practically all 



: °Jr. Ec. Ent. IV, pp. 216-218, 1911. 



