66 



to it. When fresh the whole mass is soft and moist, but it soon acquires a firmer con- 

 sistency. Ic is often as long as the abdomen, and usually lies in a curved or slanting 

 position. The eggs which compose this mass are laid side by side to the number of from 

 30 to 100 according to the size of the mass." 



Prof. Thomas states that he has obtained the eggs of Caloptenus femur-rubrum in 

 rotten wood in which they were placed without any apparent regularity and without 

 being connected by any glutinous secretion. 



The sounds made by locusts are produced in two ways, first by rasping the hind 

 thighs up and down on the wing-covers, and second by snapping together the edges of the 

 w ngs and wing-covers during flight.' 



Our Canadian locusts fall into two sub-families, Acridince and Tettigince. To the 

 first belong all those species in which the pronotum (upper surface of thorax) extends only 

 to the base of the wing-covers. This group contains the greater number of our spscies. 

 To the second belongs a small group of species in which the wing-covers are aborted, 

 appearing as small pads, while the pronotum extends as far as, or past, the extremity of 

 the abdomen. 



As regards the time of appearance of our locusts, there is a succession of species from 

 early spring until the fall. As soon as the snow has disappeared from the sunny slopes 

 and grassy banks, several kinds of little locusts may be observed. These are the Grouse- 

 locusts (Tettix and Tettigidea). They are compactly formed, the body being broadest 

 between the middle pair of legs, tapering gradually to a point behind, the head is very 

 small and the legs are rather short. As already stated, the wing-covers are merely little 

 scales, the wings being folded beneath the extended thorax. The species are all small, 

 measuring about half an inch in length. They pass through their transformations during 

 the latter part of summer and fall, hybernating in the imagD or perfect state. 



About the end of May and during the month of June a species of locust may often 

 be observed flying with a rustling sound. This is Tragocephala infuscata, Harr. There 

 are two forms or varieties. The typical infuscata being dusky brown, the win»-covers 

 faintly spotted with brown, wings transparent, pale greenish-yellow next the body, with 

 a lar^e dusky cloud near the hind margin, and a black line near the front margin ; length 

 about three-quarters of an inch. The variety viricti-fasciata is almost wholly green and 

 is slightly larger ; it has been described as a distinct species, but as it occurs in the same 

 localities and at the same season it is probably merely a variety of the same species. 

 They hybernate as larvae, changing to pupa? early in spring, attaining the perfect state 

 about the end of May and disappearing early in July. Dr. Harris states that they "are 

 sometimes very troublesome in gardens, living upon the leaves of vegetables and flowers, 

 and attacking the buds and half-expanded petals." 



As infuscata dies out, its place is filled by swarms of Camnula pellucida, a small 

 locust very abundant in dry pastures during midsummer. General colour ash-brown, face 

 reddish brown, a daik spot behind the eye and just touching it, and another on the side 

 of thorax, wing-covers brown, marked with yellow lines and dark spots, wings colourless, 

 with biaok veins. The female measures about an inch in length, the male a little less. 

 The flight of this species is noiseless, extending about thirty or forty feet. 



Durin" August and September the fields fairly swarm with locusts, prominent among 

 them bein» the large species that fly with a crackling or snapping noise. Many of these 

 insects have considerable command of themselves while on the wing, being able to change 

 the direction of their flight at will. The wings are generally brightly colored, reminding 

 us of the lepidopterous genus Catocala. 



Oulipoda verruculata is ash-brown varied with dusky brown, wings yellow at base 

 with a black band. 



(IJdipoda sordida flies with a rustling noise exactly like the species of Tragocephala. 

 It is dusky brown, head and thorax varied with patches of lighter and darker shades, 

 win^-covers dark brown with two light bands on the middle portion. Wings pale greenish 

 yellow on the inner half, remainder smoky brown. (Edipoda Carolina is our largest 

 species, the female measuring from 1.5 to 1.75 inches. It is of a dull ash-brown colour^ 

 sprinkled with small dusky spots, wings deep black, except the margin, which is pale 

 yellow. When alarmed it flies with a muffled, rustling noise. 



