MOLE-CRICKET. 



869 



covering the wings ; abdomen with two caudal processes. 

 Fore-legs sturdy, resembling hands, used for burrowing, like 

 those of the mole. The larva and nymph greatly resemble 

 the perfect insect in form and colour, but have the wings 

 undeveloped. 



b. Life- history. 



Pairing takes place under- 

 ground, from the beginning 

 of June till the middle of 

 July. 



The ? during the month 

 of June lays 150 to 250 

 pale yellowish eggs, as 

 large as hempseed, in a 

 hole of the size of a hen's 

 egg, and about 10 to 12 cm. 

 below the surface of the 

 ground, with which it 

 communicates by a tunnel 

 or shaft, with a circular 

 section. 



The earth above and 

 around the hole is rendered 



more compact by the Saliva Fig ^..The^ole-cricket, Gryllotalpa 



of the ? . The ? watches vulgaris, L. 



the nest carefully, and when 

 disturbed returns to it by 

 the tunnel. 



The young larvae appear after 2 to 3 weeks, and remain 3 to 4 

 weeks in the nest ; they then begin to burrow in the ground, 

 moult 3 times before October or November, and then hibernate 

 in the ground. 



The nymph-stage takes place at the end of May or 

 beginning of June with the fourth moulting, the nymph 

 being active and feeding; with the last moult, instead of 

 the little lappets which represent the wings in the nymph, 

 4 true wings appear, and the form of the perfect insect is 

 assumed. 



a Perfect insect, b and c Larvae in early 

 stages. 



F.P. 



B B 



