20 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V. 



The specimens consisted of larvae and imagos of the Acridid, 

 Chrotogonus trachypterus. A small thickset brown grasshopper 

 which appears to be very destructive to young crops of almost all 

 kinds. Accounts of it will be found in the pages of these Notes. 



Hieroglyphus furcifer, Sauss. 

 (Ord. Orthoptera fam. Acrididae.) 



In September 1898, damage to some extent was caused in the 

 Kerowlee States, and in the Bombay Presidency, etc., by grasshoppers 

 belonging to the species Hieroglyphus furcifer, Sauss. In the Surat 

 district, the village officers report that these insects are destroying the 

 bajri and rice crops as also the grass. It is said that the insects have 

 their origin in grass and that they are found every year in grass only. 

 This year they are found in other crops which they are destroying. 



In Indian Museum Notes reference is made of this insect as 

 destructive to crops in the Rajpipla State, and in the Panch Mahals 3 

 Broach, and Thana districts in the Bombay Presidency, etc. 



The following extract is taken from the translation of a report 

 compiled by the Revenue Department of the Kerowlee State on the 

 birth, etc., of the " Kata " insect :— 



"'Kata' is an insect whose legs, wings and body resemble those of the 

 locust .... 



The egg-laying is generally believed to take place during the rains like other 

 insects of the rainy season. 



When these insects are very numerous and cause serious injury to crops 

 attention is drawn towards them. As it cuts and devours leaves the people here 

 called it ' Kata ' (cutter). It is not known by any other name here. 



At the time of birth some say it is of green or khaki colour like mosquitoes, 

 ants and flies .... 



Others say it lays eggs like locusts. Some say that small white eggs about 

 the size of mustard or even smaller were found in masses of fifty to hundred 

 underneath the ground when the land was prepared before the rains. Afterwards 

 in the same fields large number of these insects were found. 



The colour of the young insects is generally green and as it increases the 

 colour changes. Some say that the colour of the crop it devours affects its 

 colour. The majority of the insects submitted are of a yellow colour. 



In the beginning it creeps from one plant to another. When it acquires 

 wings, it hops by slightly flying, because it has not sufficient power of flight. It 

 cannct fly in swarms as locusts do from one place to another. 



