FAMILY v.— TRYXALIN.^, 



129 



knees. Their noiseless life is but poor and short, nor does this 

 insect leap well. McNeill says that, like its allies, it can scarcely 

 be said to either fly or jump, but it suffers little or nothino^ 

 in lacki 1112^ these accomplishments, as its astonishing facility 

 as a tumbler and contortionist generalh^ discourage all but 

 the most determined efforts for its capture. It is as prightly, 

 wide-awake little "hopper," and an artful dodger. 



"When about to stridulate these in- 

 sects place themselves in a nearly hori- 

 zontal position, with the head a little ele- 

 vated. The\' then raise both hind legs to- 

 gether, the hind tibiae bent back snugly 

 against the femora during the movement 

 and grate the thighs against the outer 

 surface of the tesfmina." 



Fig. 75. — Steno- 

 bothrus curtipennis, 

 male. Original. 



Fig. 76. — Stenobotbriis curtipennis, female. Original. 



Two forms occur, and several well- 

 marked color varieties. The long-winged 

 form was described as longipennis, Scudder; 

 it is not as common in Minnesota as the short-winged one. 

 Total length male, 14 to 22 mm.; female, 12.4 to 23 

 mm.; of body, male, 13.5 mm. to 15.5 m.; of lemale, 15 to 

 24.5 mm.; of tegmina, male, 8.5 to 15 mm., female, 7 to 

 16.5 mm ; of hind femora, male, 10.5 to 11.8 mm., female, 

 11.5 to 14 mm.; ofantennjE, male, 8.5 to 10.5mm., female, 

 6.5 to 8 mm. 



In Fig. 75 is shown a long-winged male, and in Fig. 76 

 a short-winged female. 



