26 



British Short=horned Grasshoppers. 



By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. {Read (h-tohcr 9th, 1913). 



Last year I read before this Society a short paper on the British 

 members of one of the subdivisions of the Orthoptera — the 

 Forficulodea. On the present occasion I wish to call your attention 

 to another — the Acridiodea. 



You will perhaps recollect that the Orthoptera were divided into 

 the following groups or sub-orders : — 



1. Forficulodea (Earwigs, etc.). 



2. Blattodea (Cockroaches). / 



3. Mantndea (Praying Insects). 



4. P/tasniodea (Stick Insects). 



5. Gryllodea (Crickets). 



6. Lncnstadea (Ijong-horned Grasshoppers). 



7. Acridiodea (Short-horned Grasshoppers), 

 Included in the Acridiodea are immense numbers of grasshoppers, 



which may be defined as : — (Jrt/ioptera icith hindlet/s loiujer tlian 

 fore- or nrid-lef/s and having their femora wider towards the base ; the 

 " ear " on the first segment of the abdomen, at theside, towards the top, the 

 " mnsic " beinf/ produced b}/ hind-ley and elytron : antenna short; tarsi 

 with three joints : oripositor not consjiinious, composed of four short 

 valres. 



We may divide the Acridiodea into nine families. 



1. Tetrii/idd , 



2. Pneumoridir. 



3. Mastacida:. 



4. Proscopiida'. 



5. Trii.valida. 



6. CEdipodida\ 



7. Pi/rf/omorpJiidtr. 



8. Pamphafjidrr. 



9. Acridiidir. 



Two only of these contain British representatives, the Truxalidfe 

 and Tetrigidfe — ^nine species being found in the former family, and 

 two, belonging to the genus Tetrix, in the latter. The typical 

 family Acridiidie, containing the migratory locusts, includes no 

 species native to Britain. It is fortunate that, tlaough we possess 

 so few species, and most of those w^e do possess are small, yet they 

 give a good idea of the Acridiodea as a whole. 



