CHAPTER VII. 



x 



GREEN GRASSHOPPERS (LOCUSTID^). 



THE family Locustidae contains none of the true locusts. 

 From the Acridiidse we have seen these insects can be 

 readily distinguished by their very long, delicate antennae 

 and four-jointed tarsi ; and in other characters they differ 

 essentially. Although as a rule provided with large 

 wings, they have not the same power of flight as the 

 Acridiidae ; it is believed there are no air vesicles con- 

 nected with the tracheal system ; and to this may be due 

 the fact that none of the Locustidae undertake those 

 great migrations, so destructive to vegetation, that have 

 rendered some of the foregoing family notorious. As 

 a rule, they are less robust than Acridiidae, their ocelli 

 are considerably less perfect, and the head is often pro- 

 duced in front into a curious cone-shaped projection, 

 the use of which is totally unknown, as in a large number 

 of Conocephalides. One of their most characteristic 

 features is the ovipositor, which frequently exceeds the 

 length of the body. Not present in the newly-hatched 



