21 



Notes on British Orthoptera. 



By W. J. I,ucAS, B.A., F.E.S. Read May \2th, 1904. 



In dealing with the Orthoptera it is unnecessary to state that we 

 have to do with one of the neglected orders of insects, which really 

 means, I suppose, that the insects comprising it do not appeal to 

 the collector as such — he who has the courage to attack them must 

 be a naturalist also, which it is needless to say a collector may not 

 always be. If this is so, it is rather surprising that so few among the 

 many active workers of our Society have turned their attention to 

 this really interesting company of insects. 



Those members of the order that may fairly be considered British 

 comprise a satisfactory little group of only thirty-nine species. By 

 British we, of course, mean those that are known, or reasonably 

 suspected, of breeding in Britain, whether they are truly indigenous 

 or not. 



This paucity of species puts the order well within the range of a 

 naturalist whose time is limited, although he will very soon discover 

 that there is plenty of scope for his activity. For, thanks to the 

 neglect with which the Orthoptera have been treated, life-histories, 

 habits, distribution, and so on are in most cases still to be found out. 



It is noteworthy that, as soon as a few entomologists began to 

 turn their attention to our dragon-flies, a certa sedes was found for 

 practically all the doubtful species, and two new ones were added to 

 the British list, ^^'e do not feel at all certain that such would not 

 be the case with the Orthoptera also if they were given an equal 

 amount of attention. 



Earwigs, cockroaches, Mantids, Phasmids, grasshoppers, locusts, 

 and crickets constitute the Orthoptera, but of these the Mantids and 

 Phasmids are not represented in Britain. The order is well defined, 

 and few systematists seem to wish to readjust the boundaries. 



But perhaps the great point in favour of studying the Orthoptera 

 is the fact that, leaving out the Aptera — the Thysanura and Colem- 

 boUa of Lubbock — this order contains the oldest insects that have 

 survived to the present geologic age. 



In support of this statement it is sufficient to point to the geologic 

 record, the very incomplete metamorphosis, the frequent absence or 

 slight development of the wings and elytra, and the mandibulate 

 mouth. Another point testifying, I think, to the age of the group is 

 the presence of the cerci— posterior antennae perhaps in some cases 

 — throughout the British species. These cerci are very characteristic 

 of the apterous insect Ca7npodea staphylinus^ which may or may not 

 be a very primitive insect come down to our time, but at any rate is 

 of an early type. This simple insect calls to mind a newly-hatched 



