90 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1915-16 



black or dark brown spots. Hind femora yellowish with three oblique dark 

 bands on upper and outer faces, more distinct in male than female. Cerci 

 about tAvice as long as broad, apical, half slightly upcurved and apex rounded. 

 Subgenital plate of male narrowing regularly from below upwards, upper 

 edge somewhat thickened and with a distinct median notch. Furcula 

 consisting of a pair of slender tapering spines. 



Members of this species are very abundant, especially on dry barren 

 lands where vegetation is scarce. Color is either a dark greyish or reddish 

 brown. There is a dark band behind each eye reaching to the metazona 

 but not extending on it. In the female this band is broken into spots. 



This insect is abundant from mid-June till late fall, when the eggs are 

 laid; these hatch in the following spring. 



The Red-legged Locust 



{M elano plus femur -ruhrum De G.) 



This is known as the common Red Legged Locust, and is found almost 

 anywhere in the Eastern provinces. It is often confused with the M. atlanis 

 but the key will aid in separating them. Vertex but little elevated above 

 the pronotum, front half strongly sloping. Pronotum slightly expanding on 

 posterior half, disk nearly flat and crossed with three sulci, hind margin 

 obtuse angled more so in female than male, front margin quadrate, median 

 carina visible throughout but more so on metazona. Tegmina gradually 

 tapering and slightly surpassing the hind femora, brownish in color, often 

 without darker spots. Cerci tapering rapidly from base to middle, then 

 subequal to apex which is slightly incur\^ed. Furcula consists of a pair of 

 long tapering spines. Subgenital plate of male short apically, apical margin 

 not elevated, strongly rounded, broad, truncate. Hind femora brownish 

 and usually without any dusky cross bands, hind tibia red and armed with 

 black spines. 



There is great variation in color in different localities and at different 

 seasons; the usual color is reddish brown. 



Eggs are deposited in the fall and hatch the following spring. Adults 

 are found from June till late fall. 



