THE SQUASH BUG. 57 



separately. One or two nymphs should also be taken while 

 emerging from the exuviae, killed in the cyanide bottle, and 

 mounted in that condition. Then two adults of each sex 

 should be included, one of each mounted with its wings 

 closed ; another, with wings fully spread. All the speci- 

 mens should stand two thirds of the way up the pins. Such 

 a box is easily prepared. It tells the story of the develop- 

 ment of the species. If the Carolina locust is not so 

 easily obtained in full series as another species, any other 

 grasshopper will do as well. 



All the grasshoppers and locusts belong to the group 

 Orthoptera (or straight- winged insects). 



Other Orthoptera are crickets, katydids, walking sticks, 

 mantes, cockroaches, etc. Some of these should be stud- 

 ied, and compared with the grasshoppers in size, in relative 

 development of organs, in relative powers of locomotion, in 

 food, in habits, in instincts, and in economic importance. 

 A good general idea of the group will thus be obtained. 



THE SQUASH BUG. 



(Anasa tristis.) 



Haunts and Habits. This insect is an annoying pest 

 of the kitchen garden. Adults, young, and eggs may all 

 be collected from the same vines of squash, 

 cucumber, or pumpkin. The adults are black- 

 ish brown above, and dirty yellow beneath. 

 The nymphs are smaller, and relatively shorter 

 and more rounded, than the adults. The eggs 

 are laid in little clusters on the young leaves. 



No net will be needed for collecting these SQUASH BuG ' 

 bugs. They may be pushed directly into the cyanide 

 bottle. While collecting, observe the following points. 



