INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



47 



covers are grayish. The tips of the hind femora have two long, 

 lateral, dark spots and there are usually indications of the three dark 

 blotches. The tibiae of the hind legs are very pale-blue. The length 

 of the adult is slightly over 1^ inches. The young are somewhat 

 lighter in color. 



Life History. — This is a truly migratory species, being very restless 

 and hardly remaining long enough in one place to become harmful. 

 Within the State the first migrations occur in the San Joaquin Val- 

 ley in the Turlock and Newman districts during the early part of 

 June. 27 The swarms continue to move about through September. 

 The young reach maturity slowly and mating begins in August. The 

 eggs are deposited in October and November and hatch as soon as 

 the ground becomes warm the following spring. 



Distribution.— It is especially abundant in the central San Joaquin 

 Valley, in the region southeast of Turlock, but the range comprises 

 much of the central part of the State. 



Food Plants. — The hosts are practically the same as for the differ- 

 ential grasshopper, though it is not so destructive to the crops. 



THE VALLEY GRASSHOPPER 



CEdaleonotus enigma Scudder 



(Fig. 41) 



Description. — This is also one of the smaller species, the adults 

 being about 1 inch long and somewhat robust, The general color is rich 

 amber with reddish hue around the eyes. The dorsum and carinas of 

 the thorax are dark. The tegmina are mottled with black and dusky 

 spots. The antenna? and first two pairs of legs are concolorous with the 

 body, while the femora of the hind legs are richly marked with black 



and the tibiae are 

 pale blue. The young 

 are nearly of the 

 same general color, 

 with the dark 

 markings less pro- 

 nounced. 



Life History.— The 

 holes in which the 

 eggs are laid are us- 

 ually drilled in hard 

 or compact soil. The 

 eggs are laid regu- 

 larly and horizontally and cemented together, as well as being sur- 

 rounded with a liquid cement which renders the mass waterproof. The 

 young hatch the following spring, as soon as it becomes warm, and they 

 begin to reach maturity early in June. Pairing begins soon after and 

 eggs are deposited from August to October. There are two forms of 

 the adults, characterized by long and short wings. This species is very 

 prolific and does much damage. It is distinctly and regularly migra- 

 tory, but always on foot, 



Fig. 41. — The valley grasshopper, CEdaleonotus enigma 

 Scudd. Enlarged twice. (Author's illustration, Mo. Bui. 

 Cal. Hort. Com.) 



"Hunter, J. S., Bui. No. 170, Cal. Agrcl. Exp. Sta., p. 5, 1905. 



