286 



THE ILLINOIS EA-HIMER. 



For the Illinou Farmer. 



Insects, No. 2. 



HuBPHTSBoRo, Jackson Co., 111., May 23, 1S59. 



3Ir. Editor : — The errors in my for- 

 mer communication as published are too 

 numerous to attempt correction, there- 

 fore I will let them pass, hoping this 

 may share a better fate. 



I will still confine my remarks to the 

 Lociistidaej but before leaving the genus 

 Tetrix, I must state that the specimens 

 I allude to as being distinct from T. 

 parvipenniSj are the females of T. later- 

 alis. 



The species of this family probably 

 most common are those belonging to the 

 genus Loeusta, Leach ( Oedipoda, 

 Latr,) which may be distinguished from 

 the other very common genus Acri/dium 

 thus. The former has the winfjs longer 

 in proportion to the body, the throat, 

 prosternum smooth, while in the latter 

 it is furnished with a point or process 

 rising up just in front of the anterior 

 legs. 



It is to the genus Loeusta the celebra- 

 ted locusts of the East belong, hence 

 we may infer the destructive qualities of 

 their congeners. 



Jj viridifasciata. This is one of our 

 earliest species, often appearing as early 

 as the last of March. It is easily dis- 

 tingui bed by its beautiful green color, 

 wnich prevails almost over the whole in- 

 sect. The wing covers being marked 

 along their upper half by a semi-trans- 

 parent stripe. Wings transparent, pale 

 greenish yellow next their insertion and 

 dusky toward the tips. Thorax keeled 

 above, keel continuous. Antennae and 

 fore legs reddish, and often the under- 

 side of the head and breast is reddish. 

 Length to the end of the wing-covers 

 one inch and a quarter. 



When young the crested thorax is an 

 important feature in their appearance, 

 causing them to look clumsy notwith- 

 standing their agility in leaping. 



They delight in spots of young and 

 tender grass, which seems to be their 

 principal food. Their number is consid- 

 erable and their growth rapid, conse- 

 quently they must destroy a large 

 amount of vegetable matter, and that 

 of the most valuable kind. 



Dr. Harris has united this and some 

 other species into a sub-genus to which 

 he has given the name. 



Tragocephala, or great headed lo- 

 custs, on account of their heavy antennae 

 and oblique faces. 



L. Carolina. Is another very com- 

 mon species, long since named and des- 

 cribed by Linnaeus himself (Syst natur.) 

 figured by Stoll (Sauterell, pi. XVIII, 

 fig. G3.) Body a brownish-yollow or 

 rather muddy color. Head same color. 

 Doi'sel keel prominent, sharp, cut across 

 by a transverse impression. Elytra or 



wing-covers much longer than the body 

 clair near the extremity, ashy bo n 

 marked with dark irregular obscure 

 spots. Wings ample, black except a 

 broad yellow border. Length male 1 

 inch, female IJ inch, to the end of the 

 body. 



These prefer road-sides, stubble-fields 

 and spots where the grass and weeds are 

 not too rank and high, but somewhat 

 bare. They may frequently be seen 

 dancing on the wing in the hot sunshine 

 a short distance from the ground. 



I do not think this species is very in- 

 jurious to useful vegetation, unless it be 

 in the larvae and pupa state. 



These like all others of this family 

 are hatched in the ground, and appear 

 to come leaping from the egg, being 

 nothing but head and legs when first 

 hatched, and are as active then as when 

 grown, in proportion to their size. 



I think they are hatched out during 

 the night or early in the morning. 



And I also think they feed much dur- 

 ing the night, in all stages of their 

 growth, for as soon as dusk comes, and 

 after sunset you may see them taking 

 their position on the leaves of various 

 plants. This will also account in part 

 for our seeing so many plants with their 

 leaves partly eaten, yet so seldom see 

 anything at work at them. 



Another early species is the — 

 L. infusoata. A smaller species than 

 either of the foregoing, and belonging 

 to Dr. Harris* sub-genus Tragocephala. 

 Dusky brown; thorax keeled; wing- 

 covers anterially tinged with brown, 

 posterior part dusky and spotted; wings 

 transparent, pale watery yellow next 

 the body, dusky on the outer portion; 

 posterior thighs rufous, with two large 

 black spots on the inside; posterior 

 iibiae or shanks rufous with a lighter 

 ring below the knees. Length of male 

 three fourths of an inch. 



The males of this species are very 

 noisy, leaping often, and accompanying 

 each leap with a rapid succession of 

 crackling sounds, caused (as in all other 

 species of this family) by rubbing the 

 posterior thighs against the wing-covers. 

 This species comes early and continues 

 long, being less choice as to its habita- 

 tion than any other of the genus. Yet 

 I do think it is a very destructive species, 

 because although generally distributed 

 it is not very numerous. 



Acrydium Americanum. This is our 

 largest and most showy grasshopper, the 

 female measuring to the end of the wing 

 covers 2| inches, and to the end of the 

 body !2|- inches; the male only measur- 

 ing 2^^ inches to the tip of the wing- 

 covers, and 1| to the end of the body. 

 General color yellowish. Head and 

 thorax marked with a yellow stripe along 

 the centre (sometimes wanting in the 

 males), thorax not crested, on each side 



of the yellow stripe, on the upper side 

 of the thorax is a broad stripe of dark 

 brown; the latter perpendicular portions 

 of the thorax on each side marked with 

 two oblong dark brown spots. Wing- 

 covers marked with a light stripe along 

 the upper edge, the sides at their anter- 

 ior part with dark and light stripes, 

 while the posterior parts are transpar- 

 ent and marked with equal dusky 

 spots. 



Of this species we have two varieties 

 which seem to be quite distinct, one which 

 comes in the fore part of the season is 

 lighter than the other, and the males 

 less distinctly marked, and the entire 

 coloring in both sexes except the dusky 

 spots, is much lighter and without a 

 reddish tinge. While the other variety 

 makes its appearance about the first of 

 August, is of a much deeper color hav- 

 ing a reddish tinge prevading every part 

 sometimes reaching even a vermillion. 



The best prevention of the increase of 

 these insects, as I have suggested in 

 another place, is the increase of domes- 

 tic fowls, which, although troublesome 

 to the gardener,- yet destroy a vast num- 

 ber of grasshoppers. Birds should also 

 be protected, as they are the farmer's 

 friends, and he should not envy them 

 the little corn, wheat or fruit they oc- 

 casionally consume, for they will repay 

 it with interest. 



I think it is all a notion that spiders 

 ever live on vegetable juice, except the 

 injury their nets may do, tender leaves 

 and flowers, I think they do no injury 

 but much good by destroying vast num- 

 bers of insects, especially flies. 



Clean culture cannot too often be 

 urged upon the farmer; clean the fence 

 rows, take out the stumps, burn the logs 

 and better burn the straw that remains 

 at the opening of Spring. Thus they 

 will be able to keep down vast numbers 

 of these pests with which they are so 

 frequently overrun. 



C. THOMAS. 



g^^A good name is abjvo all price. Have 

 you nut found it so, young man; you whose well 

 known virtues have placed you in a position 

 which you occupy with feelings of commenda- 

 ble j.pri<le? And you whose fame haa been the 

 target of envious t )ngues, have you not seen a 

 good name to be the only breastp'atethat is im- 

 perviDUS to the'puison shafts of calumny? Gold 

 and talent, what are these without a character? 

 Alight to render darkness visible; a gilding, 

 which, by cuntraat, makes the substance more 

 revolting I Cherish il', then, all ye who pos- 

 sess it; guard it carafuUy; for depend upon 

 this, its purity once tarnished, tl»e most un- 

 wearying etibrt will hardly restore it to its 

 prime lustre. Let it attend you through the 

 journey of life, crowning your diys with peace 

 and happiness. The rectitude which won it, 

 will engrave it upon your face a recommenda- 

 tion to people of every nation and tongue; and 

 when the treasure is no luni;er needful to you 

 it ishjt.ll (If'-JC'iMid to 3'"'ir •mrerity, a Ipgsicj 

 wi't; which iniliiousoa millions would uut bear 

 to be compared. 



