ORTHOPTERA 



FAM. LOCUSTIM 



SUBFAM. EPHIPPIGERINAE (=■ PYCNOGASTERIN.E) 



by A. N. CAUDELL 



WITH I COLOURED PLATE 



p~Vhe subfamily Ephippigerinae is a moderate sized subfamily of the Locustidae containing 

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

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

 J^/llSt^M. are provided with stridulating tympani, these organs being equally well developed 

 in both sexes. 



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

 according to Dr. Burr. Southward they range over northern Africa, but they preponderate in the 

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

 from the Mediterranean Islands, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula. 



The Ephippigerinae are insects of slow motion and frequent shrubbery and busliv ground, where 

 they are said to be seen with difficult}- so well do they match in with surroundings. Both sexes often 

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

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

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

 omnivorous. Some species deposit their eggs in stems similar to CEcanthus. These insects mutilate 

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



Dr. Doederlein. Mittheil. Philomath. Ges. Elsass-Loth. Vol. 3, p. 26-28, plate (iSg5), in writing of 

 Epliippigera vitium, says the females chirp when disturbed and states that the food is bv choice dried 

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

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



