MiGEOPTEROUS FORM 25 



is much more simple and consists simply in the gradual 

 growth backward of the ventral portion of the tenth 

 abdominal segment. This can be readily followed in Plate 

 IV, Figs. 1'2-21 and hardly requires any comment. As al- 

 ready noted, this ventral portion has, in the adult, the appear- 

 ance of a somewhat pointed scoop with the hollow portion 

 directed upward. In this hollow lies the organ of copulation 

 (the penis) covered over, in a state of rest, by a membrane, 

 which stretches from one edge of the scoop to the other. 

 At the time of copulation, this membrane is pushed back 

 and the penis is protruded above it (see Plate IV, Fig. 21). 

 The penis is provided with a series of quite complicated and 

 hard hooks and ridges, by means of which it becomes 

 attached to the posterior end of the female. 



The general appearance of the adult Rice Grasshopper 

 has already been described and pictured, and it has already 

 been noted that the adults, both male and female, 

 possess wings, in general very similar to those of other 

 common species. Lefroy has recorded the presence of a 

 micropterous form, differing from the normal form in that 

 the wings are very short and stunted. He also figures 

 it and it appears quite certain from his figures that the 

 form belongs to the same species. Among all the hundreds 

 of specimens examined by us, we have never yet seen any 

 indication of wing reduction and we are led to believe that, 

 in Mysore, this must be of extremely rare occurrence, if it 

 occurs at all. We have, how^ever, reared another species 

 of grasshopper quite distinct from H. banian, and clearly 

 belonging to a different genus, in which the wdngs appear 

 always to be very short in the adult. This species occurs 

 fairly commonly in association with the Rice G-rasshopper 

 in wet grass lands at Anavatti, but even in its nymphal 

 stages there is hardly a possibility of confusing it with the 

 Rice Grasshopper. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the wings of the Rice 

 Grasshopper are normally quite well developed, Lefroy^ 

 states that it does not lly. He says " as the insect never 

 Hies, wings are apparently useless." This statement is 

 quite incorrect, as far, at least, as Mysore specimens are 

 concerned. In fact, the adult insects fly regularly when 

 disturbed. They do not, however, appear to be able to 



1 Indian Insect Pests, p. 120. 



