ENTOMOLOGY. 



709 



Tribe III. Locustides. 



Elytra and wings oblique. Hinder feet formed for 

 jumping. Tarsi four-jointed. Antennae setaceous. 



Genus CCCLIV. Locusta.» Geoff. De Geer, Fabr. 

 Oliv. Lam. Latr. 



Gryllus (tcttigonia). Linn. 



Hinder feet twice the length of the body. Oviduct cx- 

 serted. 



S/i. 1. Viridissima. Green; antennae, vertex, dorsum 

 of the thorax, and suture of the elytra, fuscous-ferrugi- 

 neous. 



JLocusta viridissima. Fabricius, Latreille. 



Gryllus -uiridissimus. Linn. 



Inhabits Europe. In the autumn, the perfect insect 

 may be found in great plenty near London. 



Tribe IV. Gryllides. 



Elytra and wings oblique. Hinder feet formed for 

 jumping. Tarsi with three joints. Antennae filiform or 

 ensifbrm. Oviduct not exserted. 



Family I. Gryllida. 



Wings not covered by the scutellum. 



Genus CCCLV. Pneumora. Thunb. Latr. 



Gryllus (Locusta). Linn. 



Acrydium. Dc Geer, Olivier. 



Antennae filiform, composed of from 16 to 20 joints. 

 Abdomen bladder like, as if inflated. Feet all shorter 

 than the body. 



The species of this curious genus are not well de- 

 fined ; we shall therefore be silent respecting them, lest 

 we add to their confusion. 



Genus CCCLVI. Truxalis. Fabr. Oliv. Lambert, 

 Latreille. 



Gryllus, (Acrida.} Linn. 



Acrydium. De Geer. 



Antennae ensiform. Body narrow-elongate. Thorax 

 behind dilated into an angle. Hinder legs longer than the 

 body. 



The species are numerous, but are little known, one 

 species having been confounded with another. 



S/i. 1. JVasatus. Fabricius. 



Genus CCCLVI I. Gryllus. Fabricius, Panzer. 



Gryllus, (Locusta.) Linn. 



Antennx filiform, or terminated in a club. Hinder 

 legs not, or scarcely, longer than the body. 



This genus comprehends a vast number of species. 



Sp. 1. Migratorius. Thorax somewhat carinated; 

 mandibles blue. 



This species has been taken in Britain occasionally; 

 but in the year 1748 it appeared in several irregular 

 flights, in several parts of Europe, (as we have mention- 

 ed in our list of entomological writers,) and visited Eng- 

 land, but they perished in a very short time, before they 

 did much harm. 



Of all the insects which are capable of adding to the 

 calamities of the human race, locusts seem to possess 

 the most formidable powers of destruction. Legions of 

 these voracious animals, of various species, are produced 

 in Africa, where the devastations they commit is almost 

 incredible. The air is darkened by their numbers; they 

 carry desolation with them wherever they pass; and, in 

 the short space of a few hours, are said to change the 

 most fertile provinces into a barren desert. 



Some of the species serve as food, and are eaten fresh 

 as well as salted. In the latter state they are constantly 

 exposed to sale in the Levant; but the quantity of nutri- 

 tious matter is said to be very small. 



Family II. Acrydida. 



Wings covered by the scutellum. 



Genus CCCLVIII. Acrydrium. Fabricius, Geof- 

 froy, De Geer, Olivier. 



Acheta. Lamarck. 



Gryllus, (Bulla.) Linn. 



Tetrix. Latreille. 



S/i. 1. Subulata. Obscure testaceous brown, granu- 

 lose ; thorax carinated, marginated. 



Gryllus subulatus. Linn. 



Acrydrium subulatum. Fabricius, Olivier. 



Tetrix subulata. Latreille. 



Inhabits Europe. It is found in hot banks, and is sub- 

 ject to some variation in colour. 



The species of Acrydrium are but little understood. 

 We seem to possess three very distinct indigenous spe- 

 cies, all varying in size, sculpture, and colour. 



Order VII. DICTUOPTERA. 

 Order Hemiptera. Linn. 

 Class Ulonata. Fabricius. 

 Order Orthoptera. Latreille. 

 Order Dictuoptera. Leach. 



Characters of the Order. 



Elytra coriaceous, nervouse, decussating each other. 

 Wings membranaceous, with a few longitudinal folds. 

 Maxillary palpi elongate. Body depressed, oval, or 

 somewhat orbicular. Tarsi with five joints. 



Genus CCCLIX. Blatta. Linn. Fabricius, Sec. 



Sji. I. Orientalis. Elongate-ovate, ferruginous brown. 

 Thorax semicircular, truncate before. 



Inhabits North America. Is common in Europe in 

 houses, but is not indigenous to that quarter of the globe. 



The genus Blatta may be defined, (as it now stands,) 

 to be a general reservoir for all insects, agreeing with 

 the character of the order. Much might be done to- 

 wards elucidating this hitherto neglected part of ento- 

 mology ; and we trust that some entomographer, who 

 has time, will devote some share of his attention to the 

 examination of the genera and species. 



Order VIII. HEMIPTERA. 



Order Hemiptera. Linn. Lamarck, Cuvier, Leach. 



Class Riiyngota. Fabricius. 



Order Hemiptera, Section 1. Heteboptera. Latr. 



Characters of the Order. 



Rostrum attached to the anterior extremity of the 

 head. Elytra somewhat crustaceous, or coriaceous with 

 the apex membranaceous, placed in an horizontal direc- 

 tion, one decussating the other. Thorax with the first 

 segment, (which bears the feet,) larger than the follow- 

 ing one. Haustcllum with three setae. Ocelli or little 

 eyes, two, one obsolete. 



Obs. The metamorphosis of all the order is semi-com- 

 plete. 



Section I. Teruestria. 



Obs. The insects which compose this section are not 



• I/tcusta verrucivora of Fabricius, Gryllus verruciwrus of Linnxus, has lately been taken in plenty near Rochester, by J.Herslow, 

 Esq. of St John's College, Cambridge. 



