ORTHOPTERA. 



301 



Locusts are very abundant in many parts of the world. In 

 northern countries, where they multiply less rapidly, their ravages are 

 less disastrous, though still very considerable. But in the southern 

 portions of the globe they are a perfect pest the eighth plague of 

 Egypt. Certain species multiply in such a prodigious manner, that 

 they lay waste vast spaces of land, and in a very short time reduce 

 whole countries to the very last state of misery. These insects inflate 

 themselves with air, and undertake journeys during which they travel 



Fig. 308. Locust (Acridiitw \(Edipoda\ migrator-turn). 



more than six leagues a day, laying waste all vegetation on their 

 road. 



The most destructive species is the Migratory Locust (Acridium [or 

 CEdipodd\ tnigratorium, Fig. 308), which is very common in Africa, 

 India, and throughout the whole of the P^ast Isolated specimens of 

 this insect are to be found in the meadows round about Paris, 

 especially towards the end of the summer, and, very rarely, in 

 England. This species is greenish, with transparent elytra of a dirty 

 grey, whitish wings, and pink legs. A second species, the Italian 

 locust, also does a great deal of damage in the south. All the species 

 undergo five moults, which take six weeks each. The last takes 

 place at the end of the hot weather, towards the autumn. 



It is especially in warm climates that they become such fearful 

 pests to agriculture. Wherever they alight, they change the most 

 fertile country into an arid desert. They are seen coming in in- 

 numerable bands, which, from afar, have the appearance of stormy 



