CHAPTER VII 



PHYLUM ARTHROPODA, CLASS INSECTA, 

 ORDER ORTHOPTERA 



THE KINDS OF GRASSHOPPERS 



Grasshoppers, or short-horned locusts (Acrididce) , are 

 numerous the world over wherever appropriate conditions 

 are found. There are about 550 species in the United 

 States. Most of these do not range throughout the 

 country Indiana, for example, has only about 65 species 

 within its borders. With such diversity it is necessary 

 to have some means for dividing grasshoppers into groups 

 or clans. Zoologists have accordingly separated the Family 

 Acridida3 into four subfamilies, and these may be dif- 

 ferentiated by the following key: 



1 (2) Size small; first segment of thorax prolonged backward so that 



it reaches to, or even beyond, the posterior end of the abdomen; 

 first pair of wings rudimentary. The grouse locusts 



Subfamily, Tettigiiice. 



2 (1) Size larger; first segment of thorax never extending over the 



abdomen; first pair of wings usually well developed as tegmina, 

 or wing-covers 3 



3 (6) No spine or tubercle on the sternum between the front pair of 



legs 4 



4 (5) Front of the head, or face, making a very oblique angle with the 



top of the head; wings never brightly colored and without a black 

 band Subfamily, Tryaxalinos. 



5 (4) Face not forming a sharp angle with the top of the head; second 



pair of wings usually with some yellow, red or black 



Subfamily, (Edipodince. 



6 (3) A distinct conical or cylindrical spine on the front margin of the 



sternum between the first pair of legs Subfamily, Acridince. 



The grouse-locusts (Tettigince) are the smallest grass- 



76 



