284 INSECTS INFESTING WHEAT. 



CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. 



The California Loeust, or Grasshopper. (Cal.) 



((Edipodo atrox. — Scuddcr.) 



Order, OTHorxERA ; Family, Acridid.e. 



[Feeding upon nearly every kind of grain and grass, and 

 also the leaves of trees and nearly every species of plant ; a 

 six-legged locust, or grasshopper.] 



This insect is closely related to the destructive Rocky Moun- 

 tain locust — Caloptemis spretvs — which is found from the Sier- 

 ras to the middle of the State of Iowa, but has never been 

 reported as occurring west of flic Sierras. The California 

 locust has at times appeared in immense swarms in various 

 parts of this State, but has been especially destructive in the 

 Sierra Valley. They sometimes fly in innnense swarms, hid- 

 ing the sun from view for hours at a time. Their usual time 

 of appearance is during the months of June and -July. Their 

 flight is usually from the northeast to the southwest. 



This insect measures from nin(> to fifteen lines to the tips of 

 the wing-covers ; general color, a dull brown, varied with 

 darker brown ; the cheeks and a spot on each side of the tho- 

 rax are yellow ; along the inner or upper edge of each wing- 

 case is a yellow line ; along the opi)Osite edge of the wing are 

 from one to three dark broAvn spots, the one nearest the base 

 the largest, the others small, and sometimes obsolete ; there 

 are several other spots of the same color on the disk of each 

 wing-cover ; the hind wings are transparent ; the hind femorse 

 (thighs) are brown or yellow usually, but not always, marked 

 on the outside with two oblicpie dark brown spots; tin- liind 

 tibiae (shins) are yellowit^h. 



Fig. 272. — Eggs of a Locust, or (irass- Fig- -"^• 



hopper — color, yellow. 



The female locust dept)sits her eggs in 

 masses in holes excavated in the earth 

 (Fig. 272) by the aid of four horny i)lates 

 which are situated at the posterior end of tin- abdomen. Seve- 

 ral other kinds of locusts, or grassho]»pers, are found in this 

 State, })Ut they have about the same hal)its as the above sj)e- 

 cies, with this exception : that they have never lieen known to 



