wings of certain species are fully developed, and lie flat on the back and bend down 
abruptly at the sides of the body. In other species, wings are either abbreviated or 
absent. The winged forms possess auditory tympana on one or both sides of the fore 
tibia. The males also possess sound-producing organs near the base of the dorsal 
surface of the front wings. 
There are several different kinds of crickets, the most familiar perhaps being the 
common field and house crickets of the genus Gryllus (7). Tree crickets, however, 
are the only members of the family that are injurious to trees or shrubs. 
Tree crickets are small, delicate, and pale colored. The tarsi are three-segmented, 
with the second segment small and compressed. The wings of the male are broad 
and lie flat over the abdomen, while those of the female are narrow and wrapped 
closely about the body. Tree crickets feed on other insects such as aphids, treehop- 
pers, and scales; and also on the leaves, flowers, and bark of trees. 
The snowy tree cricket, Oecanthus fultoni TY. J. Walker, is a common species 
throughout the United States. Adults are pale green and about 14 mm long. The 
wings are transparent with a slight greenish tinge, and each of the first two antennal 
segments bears a black spot. Adults are found on various trees and shrubs, 
preferring those growing in the open. Eggs are laid singly in a row of punctures in 
the bark of twigs or small branches. O. exclamationis Davis is similar in ap- 
pearance, habits, and range to O. fultoni except for a black club-shaped mark on the 
base of the first segment of the antenna. O. pini Beutenmiuller occurs on pines and 
lays its eggs in regular rows on the bark. O. latipennis Riley occurs commonly on 
shrubs and low trees, especially on scrub oaks in dry open areas in the Eastern 
States. 
Anurogryllus arboreus T. J. Walker, the arboreal short-tailed cricket, occurs 
mainly along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to Florida and westward to 
southeastern Texas. It has been observed damaging newly germinated slash pine 
seedlings in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. It cuts off the seedlings, pulls them 
into its tunnels, and eats the tender foliage (/238, 1259). 
Family Gryllotalpidae 
Mole Crickets 
Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (L.), the European mole cricket, an introduced species, 
occurs in a number of places along the East Coast. Adults are brownish yellow 
tinged with fuscous above and are pale, brownish yellow underneath. They are 
covered with velvety hairs and are up to 37 mm long. The forelegs terminate in four 
dactyls that are used for digging. This species feeds at night by tunneling in the 
upper 25 to 50 mm of soil. It cuts off the roots of seedlings, eats pits in underground 
roots and stems, cuts off stems above the ground, and eats seeds. It is occasionally 
injurious in nurseries. 
The changa, Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder, a tropical species, occurs along the 
Coastal Plain of the Southeastern States. The adult is brown above, light brown 
below, and about 37 mm long. Its forelegs terminate in two dactyls. S$. abbreviatus 
Scudder occurs in Georgia and Florida. Adults are brownish fuscous and blotched 
with yellow. The southern mole cricket, S. acletus Rehn & Hebard, occurs from 
Georgia to Texas. It 1s pinkish buff in color and somewhat more slender than S. 
abbreviatus. All members of this genus feed on earthworms, roots, and insects. 
They are occasionally injurious in nurseries. 
Family Blattidae 
Cockroaches 
Several species of cockroaches may be found under the bark and in cavities in 
dead trees. They feed chiefly on animal and vegetable refuse and, as far as known, 
2) 
