EGG-LAYING 



in masses in the ground during the months October to 

 December, in Mysore State. They remain in the ground 

 till the following June or July when they hatch, giving 

 rise to very small hoppers not more than one-fourth inch 

 in length. "These commence feeding on the grass growing 

 on the bunds. They grow quite rapidly and moult or 

 cast their skins at intervals of from ten to fifteen days, so 

 that, by the middle of September or first of October, full- 

 grown insects begin to be noticed and by the middle of 

 November the majority of the hoppers are full grown. 

 Egg-laying takes place again during the months October to 

 December' and by the first of January most of the hoppers 

 are dead, only a^few stragglers being left. From this it 

 will be seen that one-half the year or the dry season is 

 passed in the egg stage, while, during the other half, the 

 grasshopper is busy destroying vegetation. 



The egg-laying.— A^ stated already, the egg-laymg 

 takes place irom October to December. In the case of an 

 individual female, it usually commences within about two 

 weeks after she has become full grown. 



The egg-laying is done, almost without exception, in 

 the grassy bunds surrounding paddy fields or in the corner 

 mounds. It is the greatest exception to find egg-laymg 

 in the fields themselves, only one such case having been 

 observed. This fact is of considerable importance for, were 

 the eggs laid in the fields, it is moderately certain that 

 they would fail to hatch, from the fact that, at the time 

 when hatching normally takes place, the fields are usually 

 flooded with water. It is a well-known fact that, among 

 grasshoppers in general, considerable care is exercised by 

 the females in selecting the places best suited for laying- 

 eggs, and the Rice Grasshopper is no exception m this 

 respect. 



The method of oviposition in grasshoppers, although 

 very frequently observed, has been rarely if ever exactly de- 

 scribed. The most exact account is that given by Riley 

 for the Rocky Mountain \jOGii^t—Melanoplus {Caluy- 

 tenm) spretus. Riley ascertained the mode of oviposi- 

 tion •' by repeatedly extricating and studying specimens 

 in every possible stage of oviposition." He considered 

 that he was thereby able to '' ascertain the exact method 



1 Rep. Ins. Missouri IX, 1877, p. 86. Cited in 1st Aniil. Kep. of the U. S. Entomo- 

 logical Commission, 1877, p. 223. 



