CHAPTER VIII 



COCKROACHES, GRASSHOPPERS, KATYDIDS, AND CRICKETS 

 (ORTHOPTERA) 



Characteristics. Insects with four wings : the first pair, more or less leathery, 

 not used for flight, and forming wing-covers for the hind-wings ; the second 

 pair membranous, larger, with numerous veins, and folded like a fan. Mouth- 

 parts formed for biting. Metamorphosis, incomplete. 



The members of this order are among the best known of any 

 of our common insects, possibly because many of them form the 



FIG. 91. The German roach (Ectobia germanica) 



a, first stage ; , second stage ; ^, third stage ; d, fourth stage ; e, adult ; /, adult female with 

 egg-case ; g, egg-case (enlarged) ; h, adult with wings spread. (All natural size except g.) 



(From Riley) 



main strength of the insect orchestra of a drowsy summer even- 

 ing, while others are among the most destructive pests. We have 

 already become fairly well acquainted with a common grasshopper 

 (pp. 53-56) which forms a good type of the order. The biting 

 mouth-parts, leathery fore-wings, and fanlike hind-wings make the 

 order easily distinguishable, and from the latter characteristic comes 

 the name " Orthoptera," from orthos (straight) and pteron (wing), 

 referring to the straight-folded wings. 



The order is divided into six families, which are readily distin- 

 guished as regards both structure and habits. 



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