THE COMMON RED-LEGGED LOCUST 



13 



resembling the adult 

 except in absolute 

 and relative size of 

 parts and in the ab- 

 sence of wings. They 

 grow rapidly, molting 

 several times during 

 the summer, appear- 

 ing each time a little 

 larger and with more 

 fully developed wings. 

 While these changes 

 are going on the young 

 locust is called a 

 nympli (Fig. 5, AE). 

 When ready for the 

 last molt, which takes 

 place late in the 

 summer, the nymph 

 climbs up some grass 

 stem or similar ob- 

 ject, and, taking firm 

 hold, often with its 

 head pointing down- 

 ward, remains mo- 

 tionless for several 

 hours, till the skin 

 swells over the head 

 and thorax and finally 

 splits open along a 

 median dorsal line. 

 From this old skin 

 the new head, tho- 

 rax, legs, wings, and 



FIG. 6. The Molting of Locust. Slightly 



enlarged. (After Riley) 



A, 13, C, D, E, successive stages in the process 

 of molting 



