FACTS ABOUT INSECTS. 1 1/ 



needle, and mosquito hawk are its popular names. The 

 last name indicates a work these hawks do which 

 ought to make friends for them. They never walk ; 

 they are always on the wing. Watch them closely and 

 see how they dart from right to left in the air, appar- 

 ently without moving their wings. 



Crickets and grasshoppers will be associated together 

 on account of their long, springing hind legs. The 

 first pair of their wings are 

 called wing-covers, because 

 they cover the second pair 

 which are folded under like 

 fans. Their mouths are adapt- 

 ed to biting. The mole- 

 cricket does not hop, and 

 has forefeet shaped for bur- Dra g on- fly . 



rowing, much like the digging-feet of the common mole. 

 In the same group are included the katydid and the 

 cockroach. 



The katydid, which utters its sleepy music, begin- 

 ning about the middle of July, is pure green in color, 

 like the foliage among which it hides. Both it and 

 the cricket make their shrilling sound by rubbing to- 

 gether the wing-covers near the place where they join 

 the body. These wings have heavy, rough veins. 



Bugs are distinguished from other insects by a pro- 

 boscis or beak, which is fitted to pierce the bark of 

 plants or the skin of animals from which they derive 

 their nourishment. Crickets are biters ; bugs are pierc- 

 ers. Among the true bugs may be mentioned the 

 aphis, or plant-louse ; the chinch-bug, which is said to 

 have cost the Illinois farmers four millions of dollars 



