94 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
GRASSHOPPERS, KATYDIDS, WALKINGSTICKS, AND 
RELATED FORMS 
Orpver ORTHOPTERA 
By N. D. WYGANT 
The Orthoptera form an order of insects, some common representa- 
tives of which are the grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, walkingsticks, 
mantids, and cockroaches. For the most part they are fairly large. 
The front wings are leathery or parchmentlike and are called tegmina. 
The hind wings are thinner and membranous and are folded when the 
insect is at rest in fanlike pleats beneath the forewings. In many 
species, such as walkingsticks, the wings are rudimentary. The mouth 
parts are well developed for biting and chewing. The nymphs, or 
immature insects, especially those of wingless species, resemble the 
adults. In the other species the wings are not fully developed until 
the adult stage is reached. 
With the exception of the mantids, which are carnivorous, nearly 
all forms are injurious to vegetation. The tree crickets and others 
feed on both vegetable and animal material. While this is a relatively 
large order of insects and of great economic importance, very few are 
important forest pests. 
Grasshoppers, katydids, crickets, and other members of this order, 
which from time to time become tremendously abundant, are a very 
valuable source of food for game birds and many insectivorous mam- 
mals. Turkeys, grouse, and chickens are particularly fond of these 
insects. The orasshoppers are of interest to the sportsman as one 
of the most satisfactory baits for many species of fish. Their large 
size, great abundance, and tough bodies, which insure good lasting 
qualities on the hook, make them superior to many other kinds of 
insects. Crickets are especially liked by black bass, but their soft 
budies are difficult to keep on the hook. 
Entomological literature has been consulted freely in preparing the 
section on Orthoptera, but space limits reference to only the more im- 
portant publications. Blatchley (48) contributed the most complete 
treatise of the order. Other important reports were by Fulton (774 
on the tree crickets of New York, by Hebard (2173, 274, 215, 216) on 
the Orthoptera of the Midwestern States, and by Morse (308) on the 
Orthoptera of New England. 
KEY TO THE FAMILIES 
il Legs nearly equal in size, femora of hind legs not distinetly enlarged 
for leaping; running insects Ree ON IN SRN Kea E ME TET. Soe, 2 
Hind legs elongate, femora enlarged for leaping: jumping insects ___ 4 
2 Front legs fitted for grasping and holding prey________~ __ Mantidae 
Front legs simple, not fitted for grasping prey________- sear SS 3 
3. Body strongly depressed, oval in dorsal aspect____-_~_-_- Blattidae 
Body, eloneateyand: sled erase ae ene eee Phasmatidae 
| Antennae much longer than body and setaceous__________------ 5 
Antennae much shorter than body and relatively heavy_____-_-_-_-- 6 
Oo. Tarsi four segmented; ovipositor forming a strongly compressed, 
generally sword-shaped blade__________._.___.-.- Tettigoniidae 
Tarsi usually three segmented; ovipositor forming a nearly cylindri- 
cal straizht/ needle x Se ee Were ser ties ame Gryllidae 
6. Front legs short, stout, and fitted for digging - -220 222 Molercrickets 
(Gryllidae) 
Front legs not fitted for diggings sme seem eee ee ae Acrididae 
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