CHAPTER XVI 

 THE ORTHOPTERA 



The Orthoptera is a large group of insects containing over 10,000 

 species. Many of them are very large and striking in appearance and 

 common names have been given to different families in the order, but 

 none to it as a whole. 



The insects of this order are so diverse in structure, appearance and 

 habits that it is difficult to give distinctive characters, but they all 

 have well-developed chewing mouth parts. The majority of them have 

 four wings, the front pair being slightly thicker than the others, somewhat 

 leathery in texture, and overlapping more or less when folded. The 

 hind wings are almost always larger and fold in plaits. In many of the 

 group, however, the wings are lacking or very small, in which case it is 

 difficult to determine whether the insect is an adult or a nymph, without, 

 or with only partially developed wings. 



In some of the families the hind legs are much developed and the 

 insects have the power of jumping: in others this is not the case and 

 walking and running are their methods of locomotion on the ground. 

 On this basis the Order has often been divided into two sections, Cursoria 

 or running Orthoptera, and Saltatoria or leaping Orthoptera. 



The Orthoptera may be defined, despite the difficulties above indi- 

 cated, as: 



Insects which when adult have month parts for chewing; usunlly four 

 wings, the front pair thicker than the others; the hind pair larger and folded 

 in plaits when at rest. A pair of cerci is always present. Metamorphosis 

 incomplete. 



Many students of the group are of the opinion that the insects 

 included in this order should really be placed in two or three, but at 

 present such a separation seems hardly advisable. Most of the families are 

 quite distinct. The group is frequently divided into eight or ten families, 

 but for the purposes of this book, six will be considered. These are: 



C Blattidse, Roaches. 



Cursoria ! Mantidip, Mantids. 



I Phasmidaj, Walking Sticks. 



r Acridida?, Locusts and Short-horned Grasshoppers. 



Saltatoria \ Tettigoniida3, Long-horned Grasshoppers and Katydids. 



I Gryllida}, Crickets. 



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