﻿OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



123 



LFig. 25.] white pellicle which has to be cast off 



before there can be freedom of motion ; 

 so that the insect may be said to molt as 

 soon as it is born. Except in having a 

 narrower pro-thorax, sloping roof-fashion 

 to a median ridge, and in lacking wings, 

 „ ,, ^ the voung locust scarcely differs in struc- 



RocKY Mountain Locust:— a, a, - ° '' 



^rSpa"^''^^'^^'""'''^''''^""^'™'''"^'''"'''''^^"^® ^^^^ ^^^ parent; and the perfect 

 winged form is gradually assumed through a series of four molts, du- 

 ring the first three of which the wing-pads become larger, and during 

 the last, from the pupa (Fig. 25, c,) to the perfect state, the thorax 

 becomes flattened, the wings are acquired and the insect ceases to 

 grow and is ready to procreate. The time required from hatching till 

 the wings are obtained averages about two months. The high and 

 long flights characteristic to the species after the wings are acquired, 

 are seldom indulged, except when there is a fair wind. 



Just as the mature insects fly, as a rule, in a southeasterly direc- 

 tion, so the young, soon after they hatch, manifest the same desire to 

 move toward the coutheast. They are most active in the heat of the 

 day, but are perhaps more ravenous at night. They migrate short 

 distances every clear day, but do not like to cross a stream unless 

 they can jump it. If driven into water, however, they kick about,, 

 making considerable progress, and do not easily drown. Such at least 

 are the habits of the young hatched in the Mississippi Valley, though 

 it is very probable that in their native table lands of the mountain 

 region the migrating habit is not developed till they have acquired 

 wings, and are forced from hunger to seek new quarters. 



THE EGGS ARE LAID BY PREFERENCE 



In bare, sandy places, especially on high, dry ground, which is toler- 

 ably compact and not loose. It is generally stated that they are not 

 laid in meadows and pastures, and that hard road-tracks are preferred ; 

 in truth, however, meadows and pastures, where the grass is closely 

 grazed are much used for ovipositing by the female, while on well 

 traveled roads she seldom gets time to fulfill the act without being 

 disturbed. Thus a well traveled road may present the appearance of 

 being perfectly honey-combed with holes, when an examination will 

 show that most of them are unfinished, and contain no eggs; whereas 

 a field covered with grass-stubble may show no signs of such holes 

 and yet abound with eggs. Furthermore, the insects are more readily 



