legs fitted for jumping. The wings of certain species are fully- 
developed; in others, they are either abbreviated or absent. They 
lie flat on the back and bend down abruptly at the sides of the 
body. The winged forms possess auditory tympanae on one or 
both sides of the fore tibia. The males also possess sound-produc- 
ing 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 (4). 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-jointed, 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, tree 
hoppers, and scales; also on the leaves, flowers, and bark of trees. 
The snowy tree cricket, Oecanthus fultonti T. J. Walker [O. 
niveus], 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 antennial 
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 appearance, 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 Beut. occurs 
on pines and lays its eggs in regular rows on the bark. O. latt- 
pennis Riley occurs commonly on shrubs and low trees, especially 
on scrub oaks in dry open areas in the Eastern States. 
Anurogryllus muticus (DeG.), the 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 (748). 
FAMILY GRYLLOTALPIDAE 
MOLE CRICKETS 
Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (L.), the European mole cricket, an in- 
troduced 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 vel- 
vety hairs and are up to 37 mm. long. The front legs terminate in 
four dactyls which are used for digging. This species feeds at 
night by tunneling in the upper inch or two 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 in- 
jurious in nurseries. 
The changa, Scapteriscus vicinus Seudder, 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 Scudd. occurs 
in Georgia and Florida. Adults are brownish-fuscous and blotched 
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