234 



INSECT LIFE. 



two families, for most people that have not made a 

 special study of insects do not make any distinction 

 between the locusts and the true grasshoppers, but 

 call the members of both families grasshoppers. On 

 this account the locusts are sometimes called the 

 short-horned grasshoppers, and the true grasshoppers 

 are distinguished as the long-horned grasshoppers. 



The pupil should collect specimens of each of the 

 three families, and, after studying the descriptions 

 on pages 72-74, label these 

 specimens properly and place 

 them in his collection. 



Which of the two insects 

 represented in Fig. 202 is a 

 Fig. 202.-A locust and I true grasshopper ? 



grasshopper. jf ^^g pupil has not already 



done so, a series of specimens of either locusts, grass- 

 hoppers, or crickets which illustrates incomplete 

 metamorphosis should be collected. See Lessons 

 XII and XIII. 



Frequently small red parasites are found clinging 

 to locusts ; these are mites. See page 56. 



Many locusts and grasshoppers exhibit what is 

 known as protective coloring — that is, their colors 

 are such as to protect them from birds when at rest 

 in their usual haunts. Thus the true grasshoppers, 

 which live among the blades of grass or the foliage 

 of shrubs and trees, are usually green, while many 

 locusts that rest on the ground are of the same color 

 as the soil. 



Collect specimens illustrating this. 

 Certain species of locusts are very liable to be 

 destroyed by a fungous disease. The victims before 



