OETHOPTEEA OF NEW ENGLAND. 453 



Melanoplus femtjr-rubrum. De Geer. 

 The Red-legged Grasshopper. 



Dull olive-green, with a black spot extending from the eyes 

 along the side of the pronotum ; an oblique yellow line on each 

 side of the body, beneath the wings ; a row of dusky brown spots 

 along the middle of the wing covers ; hind tibiae and tarsi red, with 

 black spines. Marginal apophyses of the last dorsal segment in 

 the male, stout and parallel, reaching half-way over the supra-anal 

 plate. Anal cerci tapering, pointed at the tip, and not half as 

 broad on the apical as on the basal half. Apex of the last ab- 

 dominal segment entire. Median carina of the pronotum of the 

 female generally distinct on the anterior lobe ; prosternal spine 

 nearly cylindrical, scarcely tapering, except at the extreme tip, 

 which is generally bluntly rounded. 



Length, about one inch. 



The eggs are deposited in the ground in the fall, and hatch the 

 following May or June ; but the insects do not reach maturity 

 until July or August. 



This is one of the most common grasshoppers in New England, 

 and at times becomes so abundant as to destroy not only garden 

 and field crops, but even attack shrubs and small trees. Prof. 

 S. I. Smith states that he has seen small hackmatack trees, in 

 Maine, almost covered with them, and entirely stripped of their 

 leaves. When they are so abundant, they rise in the air and are 

 carried long distances by the wind, when it is blowing strongly. 



Melanoplus atlanis. Riley. 



Length, about one inch. 



This species strongly resembles M. femur-rubrum, but may be 

 distinguished by the following characters given by Mr. Scudder : — 



3fale, with the marginal apophyses of the last dorsal segment 

 slender, divergent, reaching scarcely one-third way over the 

 supra-anal plate ; anal cerci broad, equal, broadly rounded at tip, 

 scarcely twice as long as broad ; apex of last abdominal segment 

 notched. Female, with the median carina of the pronotum gener- 

 ally indistinct or wholly wanting on the anterior lobe ; prosternal 

 spine tapering, generally bluntly pointed at tip. 



This is a common species throughout New England. 



Genus Paroxta. Scudder (1876). 

 Body straight, sub-cylindrical. Head moderately large; eyes 

 large, prominent, separated from each other above by fully (male) 



