ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PIERS. 2 t5 



Order ORTHOPTERA. 

 (Cockroaches. Locusts, Grasshoppers, Crickets, etc.) 

 The Orthoj)tera are insects with incomplete metamorph- 

 osis (group Heterometahola). The younp;, when hatched from 

 the egg, are entirely wingle.ss, but of the general form of the 

 adult. They moult their skin five times as they grow, and 

 the wings gradually develop, there being no well definiel 

 separation between the larval and pupal stages as in other 

 orders of insects. The young in all stages are known as 

 "nymphs"; but when they emerge from the final moult as 

 perfect insects, they are calle I "imagos". The mouth-parts 

 project and are fitted for biting. Wings, when present, four 

 in number; the first pair membranous or leathery and usually 

 with many veins, thicker than the hind wings which are 

 folded lengthwise like a fan (whence the name of the order, 

 from orthos, straight, and pteron, a wing). The wings of a 

 few species are absent, while others have only the wing- 

 covers present. If wings are absent, the labium (lower lip) 

 is cleft. Nearly all Orthoptera are vegetable feeders and 

 injurious, some species doing immense damage. 



Key to Suborders of Orthoptera. 

 a. Legs of nearly equal size, the hiad femora not enlarged for leaping; sound- 

 producing organs absent; ^vang-covers and wings of nymphs (immature 



insects), when'present, in normal position; ovipositor concealed 



Non-Saltatoria, p. 24.5. 



aa. Legs of unequal size, the hind femora thickened for leaping, usually 

 much longer than middle femora; sound-producing organs usually present 

 in males; wing-covers and wings of nymphs, when present, in a reversed 

 position (as if they were upside down and with the rudimentary wing- 

 covers inside the wings); ovipositor usually plai;ily visible 



Saltatoria, p. 2.51. 



Suborder NON-SALTATORL\ (Non-leaping Orthoptsra). 

 (For characteristics see key just given). 

 Recent writers have placed the family Forficulidce (Ear- 

 wigs) in a new order, Euplexoptera, entirely distinct from the 

 Orthoptera, with which it was formerly united, as they 

 differ somewhat radically from the members of the latter 

 order. \ The Forficulidce have a short, narrow body; head 



