ORTHOPTERA 



FAM. LOCUSTIM 



SUBFAM. EPHIPPIGERIN.E (=■ PYCNOGASTERIN.E) 



by A. N. CAUDELL 



WITH I COLOURED PLATE 



sjr he subfamily Ephippigerinse is a moderate sized subfamily of the Locustida? containing 

 ''^9 few genera but a goodly number of species. The insects composing this group are large 

 IfcJA heavy creatures, queer of appearance and of exceeding interest in as much as the females 

 Jrj>y5JMi; are provided with stridulating tympani, these organs being equally well developed 

 i both sexes. 



Belgium, in northern Europe, is the northern limit of distribution of this group of Orthoptera 

 ccording to Dr. Burr. Southward the}' range over northern Africa, but the}' preponderate in the 

 berian Peninsula according to the above authority, who also states that a few species are recorded 

 om the Mediterranean Islands, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula. 



The Ephippigerinae are insects of slow motion and frequent shrubbery and bush}' ground, where 

 ley are said to be seen with difficultv so well do they match in with surroundings. Both sexes often 

 stray their presence by their stridulation, which occurs not only when the insects are undisturbed, but 

 so when thev are angry or excited. The females stridulate as freely as the males and when held in the 

 md either sex bites freely, proving very vicious little captives. In food habits they are probably 

 nnivorous. Some species deposit their eggs in stems similar to QLcanthus. These insects mutilate 

 ich other if inclosed together and in nature probably eat other insects. 



Dr. Doederlein. Mitlheil. Philomath. Ges. Elsass-Loth. Vol. 3, p. 26-28, plate (i8g5), in writing of 

 phippigera vitium, says the females chirp when disturbed and states that the food is by choice dried 

 igetation. but when such is unavailable they will eat other material, and fruit, as grapes etc. He says 

 ey will also eat dead insects but not living ones, but will chew each other up if one gets badly wounded. 



