208 FAMILY V.— ACRIDIIN^. 



or reddish) at the tip, the patella of the lighter color, fol- 

 lowed in lighter examples by a narrow black annulus, the 

 spines black almost or quite to their base, ten to thirteen in 

 number in the outer series. The adult insect and the pupa 

 is shown in Figs. 133, 134 and 135. 



Length of body, male, 27 mm., female, 37 mm. ; antennae, 

 male, 14.75 mm., female, 13 mm. ; tegmina, male, 20.5 mm., 

 female, 26.5 mm.; hind femora, male, 15 mm., female, 20 mm. 



This is a very common and destructive species. It is 

 found in all parts of the state, preferring bottom lands, 

 edges of cultivated fields and other places with a rank vege- 

 tation. It sometimes becomes very numerous, and spreads 

 over cultivated fields, where it causes great damage, feeding 

 upon grasses and grains. Though appearing in the winged 

 state as early as the tenth of July, it deposits no eggs until 

 late in August. Anj' compact soil, free of roots, and well 



Fig. 135. — Melanoplus bivittatus, pupa. Original 



drained, is chosen for this purpose. As many as eighty eggs 

 have been counted in a single egg-pod, though the usual 

 number varies from 54 to 70. The illustrations shown in 

 the chapter giving the anatomical features of a locust were 

 made from this species. 



Melanoplus punctulatus Uhler. 



Dark brownish-fuscous much mottled with blackish and 

 often tinged with dull olivaceous, beneath ferrugineo-testa- 

 ceous. Head varyingfrom pale dull olivaceous to ferrugineo- 

 testaceous, irregularly mottled with widening median stripe 

 of the same upon the summit; vertex tumid; fastigium rap- 



