53 



oils insects. Among these latter it has been observed especially as an 

 enemy of some of the representatives of the two remaining families 

 of saltatorial Orthoptera — Locustidaj and Gryllidaj. 



This malady is quite readil}- recognized, since the host when affected 

 by it has a tendency Ijefore death to crawl upward upon the vegeta- 

 tion where it cliances to be at the time of infection. Here it grasps 

 the leaf, twig, or stem closely and fastens itself so securely that it 

 remains clinging tenaciously even after death. As stated above, all 

 kinds of locusts and also their relatives are affected alike b}" it; and 

 many of their dead bodies may frequently be seen still attached to the 

 vegetation in late fall and early winter. Just what the pathological 

 effect is upon the victim, which causes this tenacious grasping or 

 clutching with the front and middle legs, may never be known. Yet, 

 in a general sense, it may be remarked that all insects dying from the 

 effects of any of the allied species belonging to the genus Empusa 

 exhibit this same characteristic of climbing before death. Even such 

 characteristically subterranean insects as the various species of Ceu- 

 thophilus, or camel crickets, when attacked by this fungus, are known 

 to leave their customary moist, dark haunts and climb up bushes and 

 other vegetation even to the height of several feet, where their dead 

 bodies may occasionally be seen hanging for some time afterwards. 



Whether or not the Empusaj which attack the various orthopterous 

 insects in different portions of the earth are identical in species is not 

 definitely known, although they are supposed to l)e so b}^ some of the 

 leading mycologists who have studied these peculiar parasitic plants. 

 Be this as it may, minor variations in growth and structure have been 

 noted among the forms indigenous to the different countries where 

 collected and studied. These differences have led to the multiplying 

 of names, so that we now have at least three distinct names, if not that 

 many actual species. 



An insect, when once attacked by this fungus, soon shows signs of 

 unrest and ceases feeding. It shortlj^ becomes "dumpish" and in due 

 time attaches itself to the vegetation as stated above. The whole body, 

 but moj'e especially the abdomen, swells greatly and seems to be lit- 

 erally ffUed with a mushy, granular substance which, upon drying, 

 changes to a brownish, dust-like character. A little later this dust, 

 which is made up largely of resting spores, escapes through the breaks 

 between the joints of the insect's body and is scattered broadcast l)y 

 the winds. 



Comparatively little is known concerning the life cycle of this fungus 

 or of the methods l)y which infection of the host occurs from 3'ear to 

 year. That it must be done by contact rather than through the ali- 

 mentary canal is quite probal)le, judging from reports of experiments 

 made by Dr. Roland Thaxter and mentioned in his Monograph of the 

 Entomophthorea3 of the United States. The resting spores must also 



