Systematic Course, 13 
1._—Orthoptera. 
The Orthoptera comprise a large number of very distinct forms. 
They may be defined as insects without pupal stage, with mouth parts 
formed for biting, the adult in most eases provided with two pairs of 
wings, The Orthoptera appeared very much earlier than most of the 
other orders of Insects in the Earth’s history, and the structure that they 
present is of a generalised type. An account of the main features in 
the structure of a typical orthopterous insect is given in the chapter 
upon the dissection of the cockroach which the students should work over 
carefully. 
The following is a classified list of the more important grotfps of 
Indian Orthoptera :— 
I. —ORTHOPTERA GENUINA.— Front wings narrow and more or less stiff. 
a, Cursoria.— With legs formed for running. 
E.g., Blattidea (Cockroaches). 
b. Gressoria.— With thm weak legs suitable only for slow pro- 
gression. « 
E.g., _Mantida, front legs modified for catching prey. 
Phasmide, front legs not so modified, 
ec. Saltatoria.—Hind legs modified for leaping. 
E.g., Acridide (Locusts and grass-hoppers), with short 
antenna. 
Locustide (Tree-crickets), with long filiform 
antenne ; front wings set more or less verti- 
cally. 
Gryllid@ (House and mole crickets), with long 
filiform antenne ; front wings set horizontally. 
JI.—Orruorrera PsevpoNEUROPTERA.—Front wings as broad as the 
hind wings and membranous. 
E.g., Termitide (White-ants).— Larve live on land. 
Inbetlulide (Dragon-flies).—Larve live in 
water, 
Blattida (Cockroaches). —These insects are common house and ship pests, 
but are of no great importance to the forester, They lay their eggs 
in horny purse-shaped capsules. The larve are wingless. The full- 
grown insects usually have wings. They pass the whole of their lives 
in houses and other sheltered places, where they feed on sugar, starch 
and refuse of all kinds. Enough will be learnt abont the structure of 
the group in the course of dissecting the species Periplaneta americana, 
