49 



British Long= horned Grasshoppers. 



By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. {Read December 10th, 1914.) 



On previous occasions I have read to this Society papers on two 

 of the subdivisions of the Orthoptera — the Forficulodea* (Earwigs) 

 and the Acridiodeaf (Short-horned Grasshoppers). This evening I 

 ask for your indulgence while I introduce to your notice another 

 subdivision — the Locustodea, or Long-horned Grasshoppers. 



Were we living in some region to the south or east of the Medi- 

 terranean it would probably not be long ere we made acquaintance 

 with a swarrn of locusts and saw the amount of damage they are 

 capable of doing. It might naturally be supposed that the insects 

 I wish to speak about were relatives of these unwelcome marauders ; 

 so I will preface my remarks by saying that the latter have nothing 

 whatever to do with the former. The locust swarms, which some- 

 times devastate wide regions in climates warmer than our own, are 

 Short-horned Grasshoppers, belonging therefore to the Acridiodea. 

 There exists, it must be admitted, a great deal of confusion with 

 regard to the names of the larger divisions of the grasshoppers and 

 crickets, but we are perfectly safe in asserting that the locusts are 

 not locustids ; in other words, they do not fall within the Locus- 

 todea at all. 



It is usual to divide the Orthoptera into seven groups or sub-orders 

 as follows : — 



1. Forficulodea (Earwigs, etc.). 



2. Blattodea (Cockroaches). 



3. Mantodea (Praying Insects). 



4. Phasmodea (Stick Insects). 



5. Gryllodea (Crickets). 



6. Locustodea (Long-horned Grasshoppers). 



7. Acridiodea (Short-horned Grasshoppers). 



We may define the Locustodea as : — Orthoptera tvith hindlecjs 

 lonffer {often much longer) than the foreler/s or midlefis, and having the 

 femora thickened at the base; tarsi of four segments: fore tibice generally 

 provided with an "ear" situated just below the knee, the " vrusical " 

 apj)aratHS, {when present) being found on the basal part of the elytra of 

 the male : antenna; very long and slender {there being more than thirty 

 segments); ovipositor usually long and sn-ord-shaped ; many wingless 

 species. 



' * In 1912. ' 



t In 1913. 



